Two-day animal welfare summit kicks off today

CEBU, Philippines — The first-ever Cebu City Animal Welfare Summit unfolds today at  SM City Cebu Trade Hall with around 200 participants expected to attend the two-day event.

Participants in this summit will include city and barangay officials, representatives from different law enforcement agencies, and animal welfare advocates.

This is the first of its kind among LGUs in the country, with the city’s Department of Veterinary Medicine and Fisheries (DVMF) and the Office of Vice Mayor Raymond Alvin N. Garcia spearheading it.

The summit’s theme is “Changing Perspectives on the Human-Animal Relationship” as disclosed by the city's Public Information Office.

The summit will have several speakers from the Animal Kingdom Foundation, Bureau of Animal Industry, Humane Society International, and the University of the Philippines – Los Baños.

Aside from that, there will also be a workshop where stakeholders will formalize their recommendations for submission to the Office of the Vice Mayor.

DVMF’s head, Dr. Jessica Maribojoc, hopes that they could gather inputs, innovations, and ideas to improve the city’s policies on animal welfare.

“This is a convergence activity among our stakeholders para makahibawo ta unsay gusto nato. We will discuss the concerns and complaints about our laws,” said Maribojoc.

Prior to the summit, the city government already conducted training with the Cebu City Police Office personnel as animal welfare officers and establishment of an Animal Welfare Desk in police stations.

This came after the viral incident involving “Bonbon,” a dog in Barangay Bonbon that was stabbed with a knife in his head.

Bonbon is also expected to have an appearance during the summit. — GMR (FREEMAN)