MOA Signing Ceremony Bulacan Province and JAPOH

On the 20th January 2020, the Memorandum Of Agreement (MOA) was signed between Provincial Government of Bulacan, target municipalities (Calumpit, Guiguinto, Paombong, Pulilan, Bulakan, Hagonoy) and JAPOHR (RITM, Oita University, DA-BAI)at the Gymnasium of the Bulacan Provincial Capitol.

The special event was graced by the Honorable Governor Daniel R. Fernando together with Provincial Veterinary Officer, Dr. Voltaire Basinang; Provincial Health Officer Dr. Jocelyn Esguerra-Gomez; and the Mayors of the 6 municipalities. Other signatories who came to the event were the DA-BAI Director Ronnie Domingo; RITM Director, Dr. Celia C. Carlos; RITM Asst. Director, Dr. Beatriz Quiambao;  and Dr Nobuo Saito (Oita University/JICA on behalf of project leader: Pro Akira Nishizono)

This will mark the official start of the implementation of the project activities in Bulacan until 2023.

Community Assessment for the Dog Ecology Project in Bulacan

A 2-day Community Assessment Plan was held last Dec. 12 to 13, 2019 in relation to the Dog Ecology Study of the JAPOHR Project in Bulacan.

This activity was headed by Dr. Nobuo Saito, Dr. Timothy John Dizon and Ms. Micah Salunga.  The Community Assessment for our community survey aimed to identify the logistics concerns during data collection.   It was also conducted to identify resources and strategies that can be used for the IEC (Information, Education, Communication) campaign.  During the visit, we collected useful and important information including the contact details of the Barangay Captain ans Secretary of each six target municipalities from Pulilan, Guiguinto, Bulakan, Hagonoy, Paombong and Calumpit.  we got important information also from the communal areas where they can conduct the IEC campaigns, their barangay activities for the project to easily invite households for the campaign, the IEC activities held before to have an idea where the resources used and what to improve on, and also the areas where to play the educational videos.

On Dec. 12, 2019, they visited the:
  1.  Barangay Poblacion, Pulilan, Bulacan (urban)
 2. Barangay Tabang, Guiguinto, Bulacan (urban)
 3. Barangay San Jose, Bulakan (urban)

      On Dec. 13, 2019, they visited the:

       4. Barangay San Miguel, Hagonoy, Bulacan (rural)

       5. Barangay San Isidro II, Paombong, Bulacan (rural)      

 6. Barangay Meysulao, Calumpit, Bulacan (rural)

Here are the pictures of the actual visit with the 6 Barangays:

Poblacion, Pulilan, Bulacan Barangay Hall

Courtesy Call with Poblacion Barangay Hall, Pulilan;  Brgy. Captain: Igg Ryan Espiritu and Secretary: Justine Candelaria

Barangay Tabang, Guiguinto, Bulacan Barangay Hall, Guiguinto 

Courtesy Call with Barangay Tabang Barangay Hall;  Brgy. Captain:Igg. Apollo Robles and Treasurer Ermie Sonajo

Barangay San Jose, Bulakan Barangay Hall

Courtesy Call with Brgy. San Jose, Bulakan Barangay Hall; Brgy. Captain: Igg. Manuel Dionisio and Secretary Jemma Maba

Barangay San Miguel Barangay Hall, Hagonoy

Courtesy Call with Barangay San Miguel, Hagonoy; Barangay Captain: Igg. Ronaldo Arellano and Secretary: Eloisa Lopez

Barangay San Isidro II, Paombong Barangay Hall

Courtesy Call with Barangay San Isidro II Barangay Hall; Barangay Captain: Igg. Christian Coronel and Secretary: Raquel Agustin

Meysulao, Calumpit Barangay Hall

Courtesy Call with Meysulao Barangay Hall. Calumpit; Barangay Captain: Igg. Tirso Cruz and Secretary: Nedita Tolentino

JAPOHR-Bulacan Meeting on Rabies suspect animal holding and observational facility (RHOF)

On the 19th November, Bulacan Provincial Veterinary Office and JAPOHR Project organized a meeting to discuss the "Rabies suspect animal holding and observational facility (RHOF)" in Max's Restaurant, Kapitolyo Branch.

JAPOHR project will provide and fund this facility to Bulacan provincial office.  

The aim of the provision of the facility is to tackle the existing problems in controlling rabies in the Philippines.
Problems
1. Many municipalities are not able to establish and maintain the dog impounding facilities
2. Too few rabies diagnostic facilities in the Philippines

New challenges of our project
1. Provincial district approach.
JAPOHR project will establish this facility to cover 6 municipalities (district level) organized by Province
2. Establish a remote diagnostic facility
The facility can be used as a remote diagnostic facility using our diagnostic kits.


In order to establish an ideal facility, we have to follow the national guideline and managements of other dog impounding facilities.

Therefore we invited DA-BAI (Dr. Daphne Jorca),
Dr. Ryan Manlapaz of San Fernando, Pampanga and Dr. Arvin Agapito of San Jose Del Monde, Bulacan.

Dr. Voltaire Basinang of the Provincial Veterinary Office is the Chairperson.
In this meeting, first  Dr. Nobuo Saito introduced the project and Mr. Koji Shimokawa discussed the plan and layout of the dog facility and the "dog transporter".  We had a useful discussion leading to the finalization of the design of the facility and the transportation vehicle. 

Meeting with Mayors Part 4 JAPOHR (Hagonoy Mayor Raulito T. Manlapaz, Sr.)

On the 28 the October, 2019 JAPOHR member met the Honourable Mayor Raulito T. Manlapaz, Sr. of the Municipality of Hagonoy with the Municipal Health Officer Dr. Rommel Pajela.  The Municipal Agriculturist Mr Florencio Sy-Tamco wasn't there but we are accommodated by the acting MAO Officer Ms. Christina ST. Manio.

The Mayor gave his word to support the project needs to make it successful.

Dr. Quiambao is also present to discuss the project with the Mayor.

Acting MAO Ms. Manio sharing her dog incident experience which makes her support strongly the importance of responsible dog ownership and makes sure dogs are safe to be living with the humans.

Meeting with Mayors Part 6 ( Bulakan Mayor Vergel C. Meneses)

One the 6th November 2019, the last municipality visited by the JAPOHR project was the Bulakan last November 6, 2019.  The Municipal Health Officer Dr. Elisa Villanueva.

Advisor of Mayor Meneses who are past Mayors and Vice Mayors were present also to welcome us.

All the staff and advisors of the Mayor are excited with the project.  Campaign on rabies and responsible pet ownership is very timely since too many dogs roaming around according to them.

Dr. Elisa shoed us the hospital and the services they offer for the municipality of Bulakan.

Meeting with Mayors Part 5 ( Guiguinto Mayor Ambrosio C. Cruz, Jr.)

On the 6th Nov, 2019, JAPOHR team visited the Municipality of Guiguinto.
A short but brief introduction of the project to Mayor Ambrosio C. Cruz, Jr. was made possible by the assistance of the Municipal Health Officer Dr. Prima Leah Chua.  We also met the Municipal Veterinarian Dr. Eduardo P. Jose.

Dr, Manny Francisco of the Provincial Veterinary Office of PGB is also present to assist us during the meeting.

We visited the future dog pounding area of Guiguinto where the construction is about to start soon.

Meeting with Mayors Part 3 JAPOHR (Paombong Mayor Maryanne P. Marcos)

On the 28th Octber 2019, The JAPOHR Project had a meeting with Paombong Mayor, Hon. Maryanne P. Marcos at the Paombong Municipal Hall. Together in the meeting were the Municipal Health Officer Dr. Julio Garvida and Mr. Howell Bulaong of the Municipal Agriculturist Office.

JAPOHR project aims to establish Rabies network model in our target area. 6 municipalities (Calumpit, Puilan, Hagonoy, Bulacan. Guiguinto, Paombong) were chosen through the discussion with Bulacan provincial office. JAPOHR members meet with mayor and stakeholders in each municipality to explain our project and have a mutual discussion.

 They are very welcoming and showed all out support of the project.  They acknowledged the benefits of the project.  The good Mayor instructed her staff for better coordination and implementation of the project to the municipality.