Metro Pacific Tollways South (MPT South) just signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) to address cases of stray animals wandering in the Manila-Cavite Toll Expressway (CAVITEX), CAVITEX C5 Link, and the Cavite-Laguna Expressway (CALAX).
Under the MoU, MPT South and PAWS will implement a corporate social responsibility (CSR) program called "Love Pets, Save Lives".
"It is the first of its kind for an expressway developer to launch an animal welfare program," according to PAWS Executive Director of Anna Cabrera.
"It breaks barriers and gives hope that more companies will see the wisdom of a preventive approach to the stray problem,” she added.
The partners will conduct responsible pet ownership seminars, free spaying and neutering procedures, and provide free vitamins for cats and dogs of indigent pet owners in the communities of MPT South.
MPT South wants to provide a more sustainable and humane solution to the issue of stray animals inside its expressways, stressed President and General Manager Raul L. Ignacio.
The "Love Pets, Save Lives" initiative is set to kick off at Don Galo Sports Complex later this week in Paranaque City in partnership with the local government units (LGUs) of Barangay Don Galo and Barangay La Huerta.
MPT South is a subsidiary of Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC), the toll road development arm of Metro Pacific Investment Corporation (MPIC).
Aside from CAVITEX, CAVITEX C5 Link, and CALAX, MPTC also holds concession rights for North Luzon Expressway (NLEX), the Subic-Clark Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX), the NLEX Connector Road, and the Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway (CCLEX) in Cebu.
PAWS is a registered non-profit, volunteer-based organization promoting the humane treatment of all animals.