Ilocos Norte’s first veterinary school is expected to open this coming school year at the state-run Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) in Batac City campus.

MMSU President Shirley Agrupis confirmed this on Tuesday as she announced “this is in response to the country’s need for veterinarians due to emerging and re-emerging animal diseases, and to the very small number of licensed veterinarians in the province.”

Starting the first semester of the academic year 2022-2023, Agrupis said the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, a six-year professional course involved in the diagnosis, prevention, treatment, and control of animal diseases of terrestrial and aquatic animals, will already be offered at the university.

The program consists of a two-year preparatory veterinary curriculum and general education courses, and a four-year professional veterinary medicine course.

With these, future graduates are expected to safeguard animal health, public health, and the environment, and to ensure food safety and security.

Based on a study from the Agriculture, Health, and Environment departments, there are at least 172 zoonotic diseases that pose grave challenges to animal and human health services and resources. The study also indicated that of the estimated 10,000 veterinarians in the Philippines, only a few are based in Ilocos Norte.

Currently, the nearest school of veterinary medicine from Ilocos Norte is the Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University in Agoo, La Union, about 252 kilometers from this city.

According to Agrupis, it took them three years to prepare the proposal before finally getting approved.

For those who wish to be part of the first batch of homegrown future veterinarians, Agrupis said the program is open to all fresh graduates of Senior High School with an 85 percent general weighted average and who must obtain at least a 90 percent score in the MMSU admission test. (PNA)