Politics · Philippines Bureau
UPLB defends stray animal policy citing student safety concerns
University of the Philippines Los Baños officials have defended their controversial stray animal management directive, attributing it to documented incidents of student injuries on campus. The policy aims to ensure the safety of the entire university community.
LSN Philippines ·
LUCENA CITY — A University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) official on Friday defended the institution's stray animal policy, stating that the directive was grounded in genuine safety concerns rather than arbitrary measures.
Associate Professor Janette Malata-Silva, UPLB vice chancellor for student affairs, explained that the policy did not emerge without cause, but rather responded to documented cases of students being injured by stray animals on the campus grounds.
"The directive was prompted by actual safety incidents involving students," Malata-Silva said, emphasizing that the measure was intended to protect all members of the university community.
The policy has drawn scrutiny from animal welfare advocates and campus constituencies, but university officials maintain that balancing student protection with animal welfare concerns remains a priority. UPLB continues to explore comprehensive approaches to address the stray animal situation while minimizing harm to the animals.
The university has not disclosed specific details regarding the number or nature of the reported incidents that prompted the policy implementation.