ILOILO – To protect animals, especially companion pets, during natural disasters and calamities, 4th District Provincial Board member Rolando Distura proposed evacuation centers for animals.
During the regular session of the 14th Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) on Sept. 27, Distura introduced proposed Provincial Ordinance Number 2022-09-10 (“An Ordinance Establishing Evacuation Centers for Animals During Natural Disasters and Calamities, Appropriating Funds Thereto, and for other Purposes), also to be known as the Iloilo Center for Animal Rehabilitation and Evacuation (I-CARE).
The Provincial Board member is also the chairman of the SP’s Committee on Disaster Risk Reduction and Management.
He observed that people often leave behind their pets at home during evacuations amid calamities. And during rescue, the animals’ lives are not prioritized.
There are also cases where residents are hesitant to evacuate despite orders from the local government unit (LGU) because they are concerned about their pets, while other people brave the inclement weather just to rescue their pets back at home, putting their lives at risk as well.
In some instances when pets are brought to the evacuation center, they may disturb other evacuees, cause health concerns, or generally receive animosity from evacuees.
“May mga nagakatabo nga indi gid ya maghalin sa balay biskan gina-mandatory nga dapat mag-evacuate kay ti naga-ulikid sila sa ila pets. Iban naman ya ginabilin nila ila pets pero ginabalikan nila. Ti, iban ang nagakatabo nagakalumos,” said Distura in an interview with Panay News on Wednesday, Sept. 28.
Because of these, Distura is pushing for barangays in the province within identified danger zones or flood- and landslide-prone areas to establish an evacuation center to shelter animals or pets during calamities.
It is proposed that the I-CARE should also be close to the evacuation center for humans.
The facility, Distura said, helps residents not hesitate to evacuate because they can immediately bring their animals with them.
“Dapat may distinct evacuation or center gid para sa aton animals particularly ang aton companion animals,” he added.
Meanwhile, for cattle and swine, the board member is also looking into providing a safe space for them.
Distura cited Dumangas town in his term as mayor, wherein they identified an elevated area for cattle and swine to keep them safe from flooding.
In line with this, he is set to conduct a committee hearing this first week of October for refinement of the proposed ordinance./PN
