QUEZON City Mayor Joy Belmonte has launched an internship program for veterinary medicine students from different universities and colleges in Luzon.
“Part of the veterinary medicine curriculum is exposure to off-campus learning experiences. Through our comprehensive internship program, we hope to provide valuable hands-on and actual experience to soon-to-be veterinarians,” she said.
“Our Quezon City Veterinary Department will serve as their training ground until they graduate and practice their profession. Actual practice is different from theories. Students can learn more from training,” Belmonte added.
The city’s veterinary department offers internship training or an experience-based training program for its services, such as clinical
practices, including animal care and adoption, rabies prevention and control, spaying and neutering, and food hygiene and meat regulation.
Dr. Ana Maria Cabel, city veterinarian, said they have already discussed partnerships with universities and are now finalizing the
needed documents.
The department is also reaching out to other colleges and universities with veterinary medicine for possible tie-ups to be sealed through a
memorandum of understanding.
“This will be the first time that a local government unit is offering its services for the internship of soon-to-be veterinarians. Their
school teaches them concepts, and the city will let them gain practical knowledge and skills that will complement their theoretical
learning,” Cabel said.
The local government is also collaborating with Quezon City University to incorporate learning modules into the training.
“It is a win-win situation for the students and for the city because we can further extend our services and at the same time provide them
with necessary knowledge and skills that make a positive impact on the lives of the animals and contribute to the well-being of the residents
and communities,” Cabel said.