Conglomerate San Miguel Corp. on Wednesday said it has partnered with Animal Kingdom Foundation to rescue and relocate domestic animals that were left by their owners in the future site of the company’s P740-billion Bulacan international airport project.
The company said it was able to rescue some 70 abandoned pets, mostly dogs, in Barangay Taliptip in Bulakan, Bulacan, the site of its airport project.
Animal Kingdom is a nonprofit group dedicated to improving the welfare and living conditions of animals and eliminating the cruel trade of dog meat for human consumption in the country.
Some 50 animals, consisting of dogs and cats, have been rescued. At least 20 more are set to be rescued from different sitios in the coming days.
The rescued animals are brought to Animal Kingdom’s shelter in Capas, Tarlac, where they are given shelter and proper care.
“While we’ve made sure that the former communities here have been relocated to newer, better homes in safer areas, we also can’t bear the plight of the animals that have been left behind. We’re very grateful to Animal Kingdom for all their efforts. With them, we’re assured that the dogs are rescued properly, treated humanely, and can be nursed back to full health,” San Miguel President and COO Ramon S. Ang said.
Most of the rescued animals reportedly suffer from skin conditions. They will be given veterinary treatment at the shelter, where they will stay until the groups can find a new home for them.
“We mounted this effort with Animal Kingdom to ensure that the animals are safe from flooding, hunger, and are given medical care. Eventually, we hope they can also be part of new homes,” Ang said.
San Miguel is also donating at least six month’s supply of its own Nutri Chunks brand of dog food for the Animal Kingdom shelter.
Earlier this year, after the eruption of Taal Volcano, San Miguel partnered with the Philippine Animal Welfare Society on animal rescue and feeding operations.
Its airport development project in Bulacan, touted as a “game-changer” for the Philippines, is the largest single investment in the country by far. The project is seen to spur economic activity, and generate much-needed job opportunities for Filipinos.
Apart from helping former residents relocate and build new homes, SMC also partnered with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority to enroll them in various skills-training courses designed to prepare them for jobs at the airport or to start their own businesses.
The first batch of scholars from Taliptip graduated recently. The skills training program will also be made available to Bulacan residents willing to learn and be trained for jobs at the airport development.
San Miguel has unveiled major rail and road network projects it will incorporate into its airport project in Bulacan to provide seamless travel around the country and help decongest EDSA.
The company’s airport development plan includes an 8-kilometer airport toll road that will connect the airport to the North Luzon Expressway and link it to the recently-completed 18-kilometer Skyway Stage 3 going to the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX).
In a recent meeting with local governments in Bulacan, SMC also presented several proposed road expressway projects that include the NMIA Airport Expressway, Integrated Airport Toll Expressway Network-Northern Access Link, Integrated Airport Toll Expressway Network-Southern Access Link, Integrated Airport Toll Expressway Network- Central Access Link, East Metro Manila Expressway, Northeast Airport Expressway, Calamba-San Pedro Expressway, Bulacan-Tarlac Expressway, Bataan-Bulacan Expressway, Skyway Stage 3-R10 NMIA Expressway, MRT 7 Road, and NMIA Expressway MRT 7 (Road Spur Access).
Image credits: SMC