19/06/2026
๐๐๐๐ง๐จ๐ฅ๐ | Beyond the usual: How a Public Official is Giving Animals a Voice in Dumalneg
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In a municipality where veterinary services have long been difficult to access, animal welfare was once rarely part of public conversations. In ๐ฟ๐ช๐ข๐๐ก๐ฃ๐๐, ๐๐ก๐ค๐๐ค๐จ ๐๐ค๐ง๐ฉ๐, animals were often viewed through a practical lens. Livestock were valued as investments, while companion animals like dogs and cats primarily served as guardians of homes and farms. For many years, animal health remained a concern that received little attention.
Today, however, that narrative is slowly changing. Dumalneg ๐ฑ๐พ๐ธ๐ ๐๐ถ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐. ๐น๐๐ถ๐พ๐๐ธ๐๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐๐ ๐ธ๐๐
๐พ๐๐พ๐๐ whose passion for animal health and welfare has become one of the driving forces behind the municipality's growing efforts to improve veterinary services and promote responsible animal stewardship.
Ironically, her journey began in a household that could not keep pets. Growing up, she was unable to have animals at home because of her mother's asthma. Yet it was this absence that eventually helped shape a deeper appreciation and care for animals.
When she moved to Manila to study, her perspective broadened. There, she encountered communities and organizations dedicated to animal welfare. She joined community-based initiatives that fed stray animals and participated in charitable efforts focused on their care and protection. What she witnessed opened her eyes to a reality she had rarely seen before, it is the idea that animals deserve not only shelter and food but also compassion and healthcare.
As she began earning her own income after finishing her studies, her advocacy became personal. She started rescuing stray animals, providing for their veterinary needs, and working with trusted partners who could foster or rehome them to responsible owners.
What started as an individual commitment eventually found its way into public service. Despite being one of the province's low-income municipalities, Vice Mayor Espiritu continuously encouraged the local government to invest in animal health initiatives. Her efforts, together with the support of the Municipal Agriculture Office and the entire local government unit, led to initiatives that many believed would be difficult for a municipality with limited resources to prioritize.
Several initiatives by the local government included the establishment of an animal pound for both companion and livestock animals. The facility serves as a designated area for stray and roaming animals that may pose risks to public safety or cause property damage. In rural communities such as Dumalneg, livestock animals that wander freely such as goats and cattle can destroy crops and other properties, often leading to disputes among the community. By providing a proper holding facility, the local government seeks to promote responsible animal ownership while protecting both animal welfare and community interests.
Complementing this effort is the implementation of anti-stray animal programs, including "Oplan Galut A*o," which aims to address the growing concerns associated with roaming animals. Together, these initiatives help reduce health risks, improve public safety, prevent property damage, and foster a culture of accountability among animal owners.
Yet for the vice mayor, infrastructure and policies are only part of the solution. The greater challenge lies in changing mindsets. "We are trying to shift perspectives from traditional thinking to a more modern understanding of animal health and welfare," she emphasized.
Resistance remains, particularly in parts where long-standing practices have shaped the relationship between people and animals. Rather than imposing change, the Municipal Agriculture Office has adopted a patient and educational approach. Personnel conduct house-to-house visits to discuss basic animal rights and welfare principles with residents. They also engage tribal elders and community leaders in dialogue, exploring ways to integrate animal welfare principles while respecting cultural traditions and practices.
For Vice Mayor Espiritu, meaningful change happens not when policies are merely passed, but when people begin to understand why those policies matter. One of her greatest aspirations is to achieve 100 % anti-rabies vaccination coverage in Dumalneg. While the goal directly protects animals, it also highlights the connection between animal health and public health. Healthy animals contribute to safer communities, protecting both livelihoods and human lives.
Her vision extends even further. She hopes to cultivate a culture where residents recognize their responsibility as stewards of animals. She believes government service should not focus solely on human-centered programs but should also recognize the importance of veterinary services, regardless of a municipality's economic standing.
As a lawyer, Vice Mayor Espiritu sees her advocacy as a natural extension of her profession.
"I believe it is my duty to fight for the least, the last, and the lost," she shared. "That includes animals." She speaks of animal welfare not merely as a political platform but as a calling that she believes God placed in her heart.
Like many advocates, her greatest battles are not always external. While funding limitations and logistical challenges can often be addressed through partnerships and planning, the emotional struggle of animal rescuing remains difficult to overcome.
Each rescued animal carries a story, and not every story ends happily. She admits that losing rescued animals often weighs heavily on her. Whenever one does not survive, she struggles with guilt and questions whether she could have done more. These moments, she says, are far more difficult than any external challenge.
Yet despite the setbacks, she continues. One of the most significant milestones of her advocacy came through the recently concluded veterinary mission conducted in partnership with Mariano Marcos State University- College of Veterinary Medicine (MMSU-CVM). After numerous attempts to establish collaborations with various veterinary organizations, the partnership with MMSU-CVM finally materialized.
The mission provided spay and neuter services, consultations, and anti-rabies vaccination, where these services had limited access to residents previously. For Vice Mayor Espiritu, it was more than an outreach activity; it was the realization of a long-held dream for the municipality she serves.She remains optimistic that the partnership will continue and expand in the years to come.
Today, Dumalneg is also working toward institutionalizing these efforts through the formulation of its Animal Welfare Code, a legislative priority of the Sangguniang Bayan in which the vice mayor actively participates. The local government is likewise exploring scholarship opportunities for aspiring veterinary students from Dumalneg, hoping to cultivate future professionals who will continue advancing animal health within the municipality.
When asked about her message to the youth, Vice Mayor Espiritu does not begin with animals. Instead, she begins with people. She believes that caring for animals starts with learning how to care for others. More importantly, she believes advocacy is best taught through example. By demonstrating compassion, responsibility, and commitment through her own actions, she hopes young people will come to appreciate the value of animal health and welfare for themselves.
In many ways, the story of Dumalneg's animal welfare movement is still being written. Challenges remain, and changing long-held beliefs takes time. Yet the municipality's progress offers a powerful reminder that meaningful change often begins with a single person willing to care deeply about a cause.
For Dumalneg, animal welfare is no longer just an issue affecting animals. It has become a reflection of leadership, compassion, and the belief that public service is at its best when it gives a voice to those who cannot speak for themselves.
