MANILA – Plans for the rescue of animals when calamities hit the country must be included in the national disaster preparedness program, Sen. Leila de Lima said.
“We need to revisit our national disaster preparedness program to include the animals, including strays, who may need to be rescued, fed, and transported to safe grounds, especially those from owners who were forced to leave them,” the detained senator said in a statement.
During the recent phreatic eruption of Taal Volcano, several farm animals such as horses, cattle, pigs, and chickens were left to fend for themselves on Volcano Island.
Several of them have since been rescued and evacuated from the island which has become blanketed in a deep layer of volcanic ash, while others died.
Citing data from the Philippine Animal Welfare Society, De Lima said that only 30 of some 3,000 horses from Volcano Island had so far been rescued.
“I join the plea of animal rights organizations and rescue volunteers to save the animals left behind in the areas severely affected by Taal Volcano’s eruption,” De Lima said. “It breaks my heart to see these pets and animals helplessly suffering and dying.”/PN
