Animal welfare advocates plead to also be considered as frontliners during COVID-19 pandemic
The enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) had altered the daily routine of Filipinos in a major way. Some have shifted into a work or study-from-home setup, while others have simply stopped working, studying, or running their businesses altogether.
Animal welfare advocates are among those who are having a hard time with the ECQ being implemented. They cannot get through quarantine control points (QCP) to attend to the animals they are caring for because they are not considered frontliners.
Susan Espinosa, an animal welfare advocate
Desperation has even led animal welfare advocate Susan Espinosa to write an open letter to President Rodrigo Duterte, pleading him to consider people like her as frontliners, too.
An excerpt from Susan Espinosa's open letter to President Rodrigo Duterte
According to Philippine National Police spokesperson Brigadier General Bernard Banac, animal health care workers and animal welfare advocates have not been included in the guidelines set by the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF), that's why they are not granted entry in QCPs.
In an interview with Stand for Truth's Manal Sugadol, Dr. Noel Manalo, a.k.a. Vet ng Bayan, narrated how the ECQ has badly affected the health of most pets and animals.
Dr. Noel Manalo also known as Vet ng Bayan
“Talagang kawawa po yung mga pets kasi wala pong mapuntahan. Ang daming namatay na aso sa sakit, sa parvo…nagtae ng dugo. ('Yung iba) hindi mapaanak. Ang dami pong case na ganun. Hindi na-Cesarean, so namamatay na lang po sila.”
However, a ray of light has seemingly emerged from the dark clouds as the Department of Agriculture (DA), under the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI), has released a directive for licensed veterinarians and members of animal welfare groups to be allowed passage in QCPs, so they can continue providing much-needed health care to animals and pets.
Memorandum released by the Department of Agriculture, under the Bureau of Animal Industry
According to the BAI's OIC-Director Dr. Ronnie Domingo, they have already given IDs to animal health care workers and animal welfare advocates, which they can present in QCPs so they can be granted passage.
Process of getting an ID or veterinary service pass
The memorandum also allows veterinary clinics in communities to stay open to attend to the health care needs of animals.
Watch the full report on animal welfare advocates' plea to be considered frontliners in this episode of Stand for Truth.
For more news on the Coronavirus Disease pandemic, go to GMA Network's COVID-19 page.
And for updates regarding the enhanced community quarantine, go to the ECQ page.
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