Manila Vice Mayor Chi Atienza is appealing to sponsors and compassionate Manileños to help sustain a mass spay and neuter program aimed at addressing animal overpopulation in the city.

Atienza said the initiative, led by Biyaya Animal Care Foundation in partnership with the city government, seeks to expand free sterilization services for dogs and cats across Manila.

While the city is committed to supporting the program, Atienza stressed that additional resources are needed to ensure its long-term sustainability.

“To keep this program free for pet owners, government efforts must be supported by the private sector. The need is urgent, and we cannot do this alone,” Atienza said. “My goal is not publicity, but to rally resources so we can help our city’s dogs and cats.”

The vice mayor emphasized the importance of publicizing animal welfare efforts to encourage greater participation from potential sponsors and donors. She noted that keeping advocacy work low profile can limit opportunities to mobilize support.

“If we do this work quietly, we lose the chance to reach compassionate individuals and companies who want to help but do not know where their support is needed,” she said.

Atienza assured potential sponsors that all donations, whether in the form of vaccines, anesthesia, medical supplies, logistical assistance, or financial contributions, would directly support the operations of Biyaya Animal Care Foundation and the city’s veterinary teams.

She encouraged interested sponsors to coordinate directly with Biyaya Animal Care, citing the immediate need for anesthesia, medical consumables, and other essential supplies to keep the services running at no cost to residents.

The program aims to replicate successful models implemented in other local government units, including Baguio City, where Biyaya Animal Care helped train local veterinarians to sustain regular sterilization drives.

The collaboration began in September following Atienza’s appeal to animal lovers and non-government organizations to adopt animals from the Vitas Pound on Sept. 16, 2025.

Through the initiative, the vice mayor said she hopes to build a more compassionate Manila where animal welfare remains a priority, demonstrating that when government and community work together, no animal has to suffer.