Powering compassion

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March 20, 2025 | 12:00am

Animal welfare groups have found a surprising yet welcome ally in an organization from an entirely unrelated industry. Last week, Meralco, the country’s largest electricity distribution utility, took a groundbreaking step in corporate animal welfare by hosting its first-ever seminar on the topic. Add to this, the company unveiled a dedicated “catio” for community cats within its compound in Ortigas.

This, I believe, is no less inspiring – a tangible demonstration of the company’s commitment to the advocacy, truly walking the talk.

This milestone underscores the private sector’s potential to drive social change and unlocks a wealth of possibilities through collaboration. The event’s success was made possible by the dedication of the company’s volunteer employees and strong partnerships with Biyaya Animal Care and the Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS).

While some may argue that more pressing national concerns deserve priority, this does not diminish the importance of animal welfare as a social issue.

In fact, recent high-profile cases of animal cruelty across the country have outraged many Filipinos, underscoring that animal welfare is just as relevant on a national scale. On social media alone, abuses of animals are quick to earn condemnation.

From the recent death of a community cat allegedly in the hands of a foreign national in Makati City, to the death of five pet dogs in La Union, highly publicized animal cruelty cases resulted into stronger calls for the amendment of the country’s animal welfare law to enact stricter penalties for violators.

Beyond the ethical concerns, animal welfare is also a public health issue given the growing threat of rabies due to the uncontrolled population of strays in the country. According to data from PAWS, there are over 12 million strays in the Philippines, presenting a significant risk to public health and community safety.

It is incumbent upon us then, that we all play a role in raising awareness about animal welfare, not just for the well-being of animals, but for the overall safety and health of our communities.

Biyaya Animal Care co-founder and chief executive officer Rina Ortiz proves that everyone can take part even with simple actions: “Let’s adopt and co-exist with the animals. Learn how to feed the strays properly, and let’s support local animal shelters,” she advised.

As PAWS executive director Anna Cabrera said during Meralco’s pioneering animal welfare seminar: “If you give animals a chance, they show us the very best aspects of our humanity. They have so much love to give. I hope we can love them back – especially those who are homeless, helpless and voiceless.”

For the private sector, supporting animal welfare is not just about enhancing corporate reputation- it is about responsibility, ethics, and creating a better society for all. The private sector has a significant role to play in promoting animal welfare and, by extension, improving the communities it serves.

This is a personal advocacy for me, and I am more than thankful that the company I represent shares the same values and supported animal welfare initiatives, starting with the community cats in Ortigas, where the corporate headquarters is located.

Through the “CATropa” program, Meralco has committed to creating safe spaces for stray cats, implementing Trap, Neuter, Vaccinate and Return (TNVR) activities. This initiative not only protects animals in urban environments but also mitigates public health risks associated with stray populations. Looking ahead, the company is focused on expanding the program to reach and support even more animals.

Other businesses can take inspiration from this model by embedding animal welfare into their corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs – or even their daily operations. Companies can also work with the government and various animal welfare advocacy groups to implement programs that help animals, and in effect, benefit communities as well.

Such efforts demonstrate a genuine commitment to holistic community development that reflects a broader sense of social responsibility – far beyond business interests and corporate image enhancement.

In the end, integrating animal welfare in the CSR portfolios of companies or even in business operations is not just a charitable act, it is a strategic business decision. It strengthens brand trust, elevates corporate responsibility, and contributes to the well-being of both people and the animals we share our world with.

By truly embracing this cause, companies can be agents of compassion and create a ripple effect to others within their industries. It is my hope that more companies will consider embedding this into their advocacies to help build a more humane, compassionate, and just society for the benefit of future generations.