Clark airport officials alarmed over stray cats

CLARK FREEPORT—The Clark International Airport Corporation(CIAC) expressed alarm over the increasing numbers of stray animals--mostly cats--within the aviation complex.

This prompted the company to launch a trap-neuter-release campaign aimed at controlling the animal population.

“There’s an increasing number of cats and other animals here at the CIAC grounds and we want to make sure that they are healthy and will not pose a threat to employees and stakeholders.  This project aims to promote human health and safety as well as animal welfare,” said Irish Calaguas, CIAC vice president for operations, who initiated the week-long project.

 A total of 15 cats wandering around the corporate offices and building premises have been rescued during the first day of the project.

Calaguas added that the captured cats will be spayed or neutered.  Ear tipping will also be administered which is a sign of the universal neutered feral cat.

“I have instructed the security staff headed by Rey Nanquil to conduct an inventory of the stray cats and we’ll ensure an environment where these animals remain strays but will not be harmed and will survive,” she said.

 A licensed veterinarian will administer the spaying or neutering of the animals and will be given an anti-rabies vaccination before being returned to the CIAC grounds, Calaguas noted.

The surgical procedures to be performed on the captured cats are expected to lengthen their life expectancies and help control their population.

Meanwhile, retired Gen. Aaron Aquino, CIAC president, thanked the local government unit of Angeles City headed by Mayor Carmelo Lazatin, Jr. and the City Veterinary Office headed by Dr. Christian Arcilla for the assistance extended to the CIAC.

It may be recalled that during the time of the Aquino administration, about 30 cats and two dogs were also neutered and spayed at the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) National Headquarters through the supervision of Calaguas and the PDEA K9 Unit.