BACOLOD CITY – A multi-million animal hospital will soon rise in the southern city of Kabankalan to strengthen the delivery of veterinary health care and services in Negros Occidental, which is one of the country’s top poultry and swine producers.
The operation of Kabankalan City Animal Hospital will be implemented through a partnership between the provincial government and the local government unit (LGU).
Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said on Wednesday the province commits to fulfill its obligation and role provided in the memorandum of agreement (MOA), which he signed on Tuesday afternoon with outgoing Mayor Pedro Zayco in rites held at the Provincial Capitol here.
“The lifespan of this MOA is 25 years. There’s a lot of work to be done and many years of cooperation. The present administration will see to it that this project will take flight,” he added.
Zayco said the city government has allocated some PHP3.5 million for the construction of the building.
“This will benefit not only Kabankalan, but the whole sixth district and even part of the fifth district. This will be a big help for the veterinary program of the province,” he added.
The animal hospital will be operated and managed by the city government.
For its part, the provincial government will allocate a budget for the procurement of the necessary furnishings and fixtures, equipment, supplies, and biologics needed for its operation.
Through the Provincial Veterinary Office, it will also provide technical supervision for the efficient and effective delivery of basic animal health and production services.
Aside from its partnership with Kabankalan, the provincial government also plans to build animal hospitals in each of the six districts of the province that will be called the Abanse Negrense District Animal Health Centers.
These will serve as the satellite centers of the Provincial Animal Learning Park and Hospital located at Panaad Park and Stadium in this city.
In the first district, the animal hospital will rise in Sitio Medina, Barangay Rizal in San Carlos City; second district -- Crossing, Barangay 1-A in Manapla; third district -- Barangay Salvacion in Murcia; fourth district -- Rizal Street, Poblacion in San Enrique; fifth district -- Hinigaran Public Plaza, Barangay 3 in Hinigaran; and sixth district -- Barangay Poblacion in Cauayan.
The animal hospitals will serve as shelter facilities, providing various services such as animal rescue, veterinary medical treatment, surgery, rehabilitation, feeding, and grooming.
Negros Occidental has a PHP6-billion hog industry and a poultry sector that is worth PHP8 billion. (PNA)
