Cebu lacks veterinarians

CEBU, Philippines — Only 10 of the 53 local government units (LGUs) in Cebu Province have their own veterinarians, prompting the Cebu Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) to urge more municipalities to hire animal health professionals to strengthen frontline veterinary and public health services.

Provincial Veterinarian Dr. Mary Rose Vincoy said the absence of municipal veterinarians hampers the effective delivery of essential animal health programs, including disease prevention, rabies control, and enforcement of animal welfare laws.

Provincial officials emphasized that LGUs serve as the first line of defense in safeguarding both animal and public health, while the PVO provides technical supervision and support.

“Ang first line of defense to protect the people is LGU component mana nato, support lang mi,” Vincoy said.

At present, only a limited number of areas maintain their own veterinary personnel. These include the component cities of Toledo City, Bogo City, Carcar City, Danao City, Naga City, and Talisay City.

Meanwhile, the municipalities of Minglanilla, Dalaguete, Barili, and Daanbantayan have veterinarians assigned under their Municipal Agriculture Offices rather than through dedicated veterinary offices.

This leaves the majority of towns in the province heavily reliant on the PVO for veterinary services.

Vincoy stressed that under the devolved governance system, animal health programs are primarily the responsibility of cities and municipalities. She explained that the PVO’s role is supervisory, ensuring that LGUs properly implement disease prevention and control measures and comply with animal welfare regulations.

However, she acknowledged that the absence of municipal veterinarians poses challenges for residents seeking services.

“The challenge comes sa public nga pag access nila. Kay supposed to be ang local government concern, munisipyo ug syudad, dapat ila nang e address,” she said.

Under the Local Government Code of 1991, municipal veterinarian positions are optional for municipalities. However, Vincoy noted that the Anti-Rabies Act of 2007 (Republic Act No. 9482) requires first-class municipalities to employ their own veterinarians.

She added that hiring veterinary personnel ultimately depends on the decision of the local chief executive.

Despite this, the PVO has recommended that LGUs establish their own veterinary positions, citing the increasing number of animal-related concerns beyond rabies.

“But we (PVO) proposed, they should have their own kay daghan man kaayog problem sa animals not only rabies,” she said.

With most municipalities depending on the province, the limited number of provincial veterinarians has made it challenging to meet the growing demand for services across Cebu. The PVO oversees multiple province-wide programs, including disease surveillance, inspections, and animal population management.

Vincoy pointed out that LGUs need not establish a full-fledged veterinary office immediately, as they may begin by hiring a single veterinarian to handle essential services.

The shortage of veterinary professionals is also affecting the provincial government. Vincoy said the province, with the support of Governor Pamela Baricuatro, has opened veterinary positions within the PVO. However, the posts had to be reopened twice due to a lack of applicants.

Although some candidates have since applied, several vacancies remain, prompting the province to reopen the hiring process once more.

PVO spays 667 pets

Despite manpower constraints, the PVO continues to implement key programs.

In February alone, provincial veterinary teams spayed and neutered 667 pets as part of the province’s animal population management campaign. The month-long initiative brought free “kapon” services to various LGUs, making the procedures accessible to pet owners who may not have ready access to private veterinary clinics.

The campaign aims to promote responsible pet ownership while addressing the persistent problem of stray animals in communities.

Provincial veterinary teams conducted on-site procedures in coordination with local governments and partner communities. The office also expressed gratitude to pet owners and local partners who supported the initiative. —  (FREEMAN)