New ordinance calls for responsible dog-ownership for rabies-free Leyte

The members of the Leyte Provincial Board recently passed an ordinance that calls for the promotion of responsible dog-ownership for the control and elimination of rabies in the province.

 

The passage of the ordinance authored by First District of Leyte Board Member Ryan Lawrence Tiu is in time with the observance of Rabies Awareness and Control Month in March and is in accordance with the Philippine Rabies Control Program vision to declare the Philippines rabies-free by the year 2020.  

The ordinance, “Responsible dog and feline ownership and rabies control and elimination ordinance of Leyte” is the third ordinance authored by BM Tiu that was approved by members of the provincial board since he took over the post vacated by the untimely demise of his father BM Atty. Roque Tiu, last August, 2012.

The First District Board Member said that the ordinance seeks to promote humane treatment of dogs and felines which will redound to the control and elimination of rabies in the province of Leyte.

Calling for responsible pet ownership, the ordinance  provides that owners should have their pets vaccinated against rabies  and must maintain registration card which contains necessary information related to the vaccinations conducted for accurate record, and see to it that pets always have proper veterinary care.

The ordinance also seeks for the establishment and maintenance of veterinarian-client patient relationship; provide preventive and therapeutic health care for the dogs or cats under their care in consultation.

Owners are also ordered to observe proper waste disposal of pets’ waste, noise control, not allowing their pets to go astray and provide exercise and mental stimulation appropriate to the pets depending on their age, breed and health status.

BM Tiu said that if owners can no longer provide care to their pets, they can turn them over to a public or private animal care facility; have their pets be adopted by a qualified adopting owner or entrust their pets to a veterinarian willing to provide alternative care or to existing animal welfare and protection group.

The ordinance also mandates local government units to strictly enforce impounding activities to eliminate stray dogs, allocate funds to augment the implementation of the national rabies prevention and control program and ensure that Republic Act 8484 or the Animal Welfare Act of 1998 is properly implemented.

Electrocution and other brutal force or inhumane means of killing pets are also prohibited by the Ordinance.

Those who would violate the ordinance could be penalized with P500 up to P3,500 and six month imprisonment, depending on the discretion of the court.

Strict implementation of the ordinance will fast-track the attainment of Leyte as a rabies-free province, BM Tiu said. 

Rejuvenating old trees through tree surgery

Pedestrians couldn’t help but notice the new young look of the old and mature native trees at the Regional Office of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources along Santo Niño Extension in Tacloban City.

Old trees can be rejuvenated or rehabilitated. This is the answer given to satisfy the curious minds. Several staff revealed that tree rehabilitation which includes activities like tree surgery, sanitation cutting, pruning and cleaning has been conducted from January to February of this year.
 

Taking good care of trees is a must. If the owner does not properly care for the trees, the results are large ungainly giants that are completely out of control and are an unsightly mess. 

In many cases, these old trees can be brought back to a more manageable state. The primary means of renovating older trees is through judicious and properly selected pruning cuts.

Forester Carlito Buante, OIC Chief  of the Environmental  Research and Conservation  Division (ERCD) is the study leader of the research project on tree rehabilitation strategies being implemented by the Ecosystems Research and Development Service (ERDS) of the DENR in Region 8. 

To give them a young look, old and mature native trees were rehabilitated by pruning the rotten parts of branches and trunks infected with fungi; the decayed portions were cleaned out and chlorox, coal tar and fungicide were applied, Forester Bulante said.

Among the trees treated were agoho (Casuarina equisetifolia),  kamagong (Diospyrus philippinensis),  narra (Pterocarpus indicus), molave (Vitex parviflora), and other mature trees with their canopies shielding the streets,  causing hazard to big trucks plying the street,  and tangling up the electric and telephone cables.

Pruning operations were done by the personnel of the DENR Region 8 and treatments were made to remove the rotten parts of the branches and trunks that were infested with certain species of fungi, Forester Buante disclosed.

After cleaning out the decayed portions, chemicals like chlorox, coal tar and fungicide were applied to preserve the native trees and make them live longer, he added.   This will make pedestrians safe from the danger of falling twigs and other debris.

People in Eastern Visayas will see more tree rejuvenation activities as the group of Forester Butante has also slated for the application of tree rehabilitation activities are those along Magsaysay Boulevard and Benigno Aquino Avenue in Tacloban City, MacArthur Park and the Leyte Landing site in Candahug, Palo, Leyte.

Other places in Eastern Visayas like Samar are also targeted as sites of tree surgery operations of the ERDS.

 

This activity of the DENR is in line with the goal of averting disaster and fostering disaster-preparedness during natural calamities caused by the changing climate,  a worldwide phenomenon that causes sea levels to rise,  small islands to disappear,  landslides, flashfloods and tsunamis to occur, thereby  endangering   human lives and properties.

Under the National Greening Program (NGP), forests are rehabilitated, indigenous forest tree species and fruit trees are planted in open spaces and most of the upland areas, and old trees are saved to ensure that the life support systems that fed, clothe, shield and shelter people will continue to sustain the present and future generations, Forester Butane said.

The NGP goals include making the wood-based economy stronger and more competitive in the world market. 

The technologies that make this possible like tree surgery and the application of mycorrhiza and organic fertilizers on seedlings and plants are all being encouraged by scientists and researchers alike. 

Farmers and farming communities are encouraged to plant more trees to attain the target of 1.5 billion trees planted until 2016 to help promote green economy. (PIA 8)

PBA legends searh for next generation of basketball stars

Former PBA players Benjie Paras and Ronnie Magsanoc will be in Brgy. 95A Caibaan, Tacloban City to conduct a basketball training camp at the Court of Inspiration on March 23, 2013. 

With him are Jojo Lastimosa, Alvin Patrimonio, Jerry Codinera and Johnny Abarrientos. 

The group of retired hardcourt legends has been revisiting various Visayas and Mindanao provinces to hold the Galing Mo Camp as part of Alaxan FR's advocacy to foster the value of hard work and dedication through sports.

Five aspiring basketball players will be chosen as official representatives for each camp. They stand a chance of winning prizes for themselves and their communities, as they train under PBA Legends in the Galing Mo National Camp that will be held in Manila in April.

The program is open to all aspiring basketball players aged 16-21 years old. Registration is open on March 22, Friday from 8AM-5PM at the Court of Inspiration in Brgy. 95A Caibaan, Tacloban.