The Manila Electric Company (Meralco) marked its 123rd founding anniversary by hosting an animal welfare event aimed at promoting responsible pet ownership, public health, and safer communities.
The whole-day activity, called “Malasakit Fur All: Meralco CATropa and kaBARKada,” gathered more than 150 employees, animal welfare advocates, and partners from government, the private sector, and civil society.
The event was held during Rabies Awareness Month and featured animal welfare advocates such as Brian Poe, Francis Pangilinan, and Laureen Velasco of De La Salle University.
In his keynote speech, Poe urged stronger support for animal protection laws and said he is pushing for the passage of the Revised Animal Welfare Act in Congress.
Pangilinan, in a video message, also expressed support for improving animal welfare policies, including increasing penalties for animal cruelty.
Velasco, founder of the campus advocacy group DLSU Pusa, shared the group’s efforts to rescue stray cats and build a more compassionate community for animals.
The event also highlighted Meralco’s own animal welfare initiative, CATropa, launched by Joe Zaldarriaga, Meralco vice president and head of corporate communications.
Zaldarriaga said partnerships with advocacy groups help promote responsible pet ownership, vaccination, and humane management of stray animals, which are key steps in preventing rabies and protecting public safety.
Activities during the event included a trap-neuter-vaccinate-return (TNVR) and vaccination program for community cats, a pet adoption drive, a pet fashion show, and storytelling sessions for the children of Meralco employees.
The event was supported by several partners, including the Pasig and Mandaluyong City Veterinary Offices and various animal care organizations and businesses.
