Bontoc, Mountain Province – As part of its strengthened campaign on lessening the number of stray dogs, the four central barangays of Bontoc received dog-catching tools from the Bontoc Local Government Unit (LGU) through the Office of the Municipal Agriculturist (OMAg).
Bontoc Mayor Jerome “Chagsen” Tudlong, Jr., some members of the Sangguniang Bayan, and Municipal Agriculturist Renato Falag-ey led the turnover of tools for dog catching to the barangay officials of Bontoc Ili, Caluttit, Samoki, and Poblacion on May 22, 2023, at the Bontoc Municipal Capitol.
The tools include catching poles with nets, animal handling gloves, and dog cages.
According to Agricultural Technologist Sheryl Tumingeb of the OMAg, the provision of tools to the four central barangays is a follow-up intervention of the Bontoc LGU after the dog catching training participated in by the different Barangay Tanods from Barangays Bontoc Ili, Samoki, Caluttit, and Poblacion as well as personnel from the Municipal Health Office in March this year.
It is lodged under the Rabies Program of the Bontoc LGU which aims to prioritize the safety of its people as well as the cleanliness and sanitation of the town center.
Mayor Tudlong remarked that capacitating the Barangay LGUs with appropriate training on dog catching and equipping them with necessary tools forms part of the present administration’s roadmap – ”ENLANGAKHA: Achieving the Vision for a Dynamic Bontoc”. One of its four pillars is Ecosystem Regeneration by strengthening environmental and solid waste management programs, and sanitation.
Likewise, the mayor reiterated his appeal to the public regarding responsible pet ownership and encouraged everyone to cooperate in the promotion and maintenance of a healthy and clean environment. **Alpine L. Killa-Malwagay, Bontoc LGU
