BY MAE SINGUAY
BACOLOD City – Following the successful conduct of the first-ever Pet Festival from March 29 until April 6 here, the city government is pushing to institutionalize the event.
The Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) approved on first reading the proposed ordinance institutionalizing the Bacolod Pet Festival, during their regular session last week.
The proposed ordinance is in line with the mandate upon the city to implement programs promoting animal welfare awareness and to encourage the participation of private persons and organizations thereto, according to its author, Councilor Jason Villarosa.
“The festival will be celebrated annually, beginning the first week of April of each year, with P2-million allocation annually from the general fund,” read part of the proposed local measure.
The Local Government Code of the Philippines sets forth the authority of local government units, through the SP to enact ordinances, approve resolutions and appropriate funds for the general welfare of the city and its inhabitants, by regulating certain activities and by providing for the impounding of stray animals; regulate the keeping of animals in homes or as part of a business, and the slaughter, sale or disposition of the same; and adopt measures to prevent and penalize cruelty to animals.
The councilor added that the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Department of Agriculture (DA) jointly issued enabling policies which cover a registration of all animal facilities.
Once approved, a Pet Festival Council will be created for the implementation and monitoring of the ordinance.
The council shall be composed of the chairperson (city mayor), vice-chair chairperson (SP committee slaughterhouse on markets, and members (SP committee on tourism chairperson, SP committee on health chairperson, city veterinarian, city tourism officer, city budget officer, general services officer, city health officer, and city public information officer.
Also part of the council are the public order and safety officer, and representatives from various private animal welfare organizations and animal clinics in the city./PN
