Racumin's RatAttack goes to Mandaluyong

MANILA, Philippines - The rainy season is here again, and with it comes the threat of floodwaters. People living near or beside rivers are especially at great risk of suffering from the diseases that dirty floodwaters bring, particularly the dreaded leptospirosis, which is brought about by exposure to water infected with rat urine.

“This early, we should take action against leptospirosis and any other disease that would threaten the lives of our loved ones. Let us remember that a staggering 3.6 million rats are born each day and each one of them is a potential carrier of leptospirosis, so let us address the problem head-on by arming ourselves with the proper knowledge on how we can eliminate rats from our community,” said Mari-Gail Lasam-Cruz, marketing manager of Neumann & Mueller Philippines Inc., which handles Bayer Advanced Racumin in the Philippines.

One such community that has chosen to take an active stance against rats is Barangka Itaas in Mandaluyong City, as it welcomed Racumin’s RatAttack project last June 12.

RatAttack has two parts: a community-based information campaign drive on the health risks caused by rat infestation, and an organized rescue of these communities to help control these unwanted and dangerous rodents.

Educational leaflets and Racumin products are distributed to the selected community in an effort to jumpstart rodent control. This is in line with Bayer’s theme “Protecting Your Family and Community.”

No less than Barangay Barangka chairman Danilo Ocampo and members of the barangay council were present during the event. Also lending their support to the project were Mandaluyong City executive secretary Victor Victoria and public information officer Jimmy Isidro, who came in behalf of Mandaluyong Mayor Benhur Abalos.

Event host Chris Cahilig kicked off the activities by asking the members of the community important trivia about rat habits. Those who answered correctly won Racumin products and shirts. Singer Myrus Ramirez then surprised the residents with a special performance.

Neumann and Mueller operations manager Bubbles Santos then conducted a lecture on rats — from their eating and sleeping habits to how they have learned to outwit traditional instant-kill poisons, and lastly, how the residents could outwit rats with the help of Racumin’s three products: Racumin Paste, Ready-Made Bait, and Tracking Powder.

“The main reason why most rats learn how to outsmart other products is that they can immediately observe the effects they have on poisoned rats,” Santos said.

Unlike traditional rat killing products, Racumin has a delayed killing action, meaning it takes effect after a couple of days and rats would not be able to know that it was actually the product that killed their fellow rodents. By then they would have ingested Racumin already. Bayer developed the product this way for long-term eradication.

Racumin Tracking Powder is effective as bait and also doubles as a tracking powder to help identify where rats dwell. Racumin Ready-Made Bait, made from fragrant rice which cereal-loving rodents find irresistible, is effective against mice as well as rats.

For utmost convenience, Racumin Paste in easy-to-use sachets can be placed whenever one suspects that rats are threatening his home and community.

“It takes community effort to be able to eradicate rats, and we hope that other barangays will follow Barangka Itaas’ example to taking a committed stand against these pests,” Cruz said.