Include farm animals in disaster response program – Youth

KABATAAN Partylist Rep. Terry Ridon has once again appealed to the national government to include animal welfare in the disaster preparedness, relief and response program of the national government.

In light of the massive damage wrought by Super Typhoon Yolanda, Ridon filed on November 21 House Resolution No. 527, which calls on Congress to study the inclusion of animal welfare in the country’s disaster response plan.

Aside from improving evacuation and rescue efforts for people during disasters, Ridon said that the national government should also immediately implement a comprehensive animal emergency support mechanism that will help owners prepare to evacuate their livestock and household pets from threatened areas.

“A common problem during disaster response efforts, especially in rural communities, is the refusal of residents to evacuate without their animals despite the clear and present danger. Farmers refuse to leave their livestock – which usually includes water buffalos, cows, pigs, chickens and goats – as these are their main source of livelihood. Also, owners who are attached to their pet animals tend to put themselves at risk to ensure the animals’ safety during disasters,” Ridon explained in HR 527.

Apart from causing over thousands of casualties, Typhoon Yolanda also left in its wake P10.5 billion worth of damages to agriculture, with P2.18 billion worth of damages to livestock as of November 21, 2013, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).

The Philippines is mainly an agricultural country, and farm animals or livestock are highly valued as sources of food, income, transport and recreation throughout the Philippines. Nationally, livestock and poultry account for around 30 percent of the total agricultural output, second only to the crop sector in terms of value contributed to the agricultural industry.

“By including animals in disaster preparedness and relief operations, the government saves households means of income and thereby promote faster recovery from the effect of a calamity. As their means of livelihood are spared from danger, families will become less dependent on relief goods and would hasten the time they would spend at the evacuation centers, thereby lowering health risks associated with emergency evacuations,” Ridon said.

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Include farm animals in disaster response program – Youth