Pet lovers, owners, and their furbabies in Pasig City can now avail of free microchipping services through the newly launched “Pet Identification Project,” utilizing pet “i-chip” or microchip technology.
Led by the city’s Veterinary Services Department (VSD), the local government launched the project on Friday, Sept. 2, at Tiendesitas Event Center in Ortigas, Pasig City.
The program was done in collaboration with the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI), Philippine Animal Hospital Association (PAHA), Veterinarians Association of the Philippines (VAP), City Veterinarians of NCR, and other animal welfare organizations and groups.
Through the project, the local government aims to insert these microchips in every pet — particularly dogs and cats — in the city to promote responsible pet ownership, and reduce the number of stray animals.
The microchips contain the registered identification of the pet and its owner, as well as information on the pet’s vaccination history.
The microchips also have a thermal heat feature that will allow pet owners and veterinarians to more conveniently assess their pets’ condition using a thermal scanner.
Microchipping also serves to help Pasig become a “rabies-free city.”
Utilizing a three-step process— Injection, Identification, and Eradication — the local government may be able to easily monitor, detect, and take action on pets infected with rabies or other illnesses.
It serves as a complimentary program to the free anti-rabies vaccination drives that the city VSD offers in barangays in Pasig.
Along with the microchip, pet owners are given “pet passports” as a manual method of monitoring and scheduling their pet’s vaccination shots, set by the city veterinarians.
Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto, city councilors, and chairmans and officials of barangays San Antonio and Ugong attended the launch.
In his short speech, Sotto stressed “all will benefit from this project, not just pet owners.”
The city’s VSD proposed and presented the project even before the Covid-19 pandemic, he said.
However, other more urgent programs were prioritized in the meantime.
Schedules for the microchipping in the barangays are yet to be announced.