By Mary May A. Abellon
“Becoming a public servant is not a matter of chance but a choice,” declared Dr. Alfred Mel P. Dagaylo-an, a veterinarian of the Office of the Municipal Agriculturist in Polanco town and one of the 2014 semi-finalists for the Dangal ng Bayan Award of the Civil Service Commission (CSC).
Choosing the path of simple yet happy life, Dr. Dagaylo-an has been resolute to go back to his hometown, leaving his money-spinning private practice as veterinarian in Metro Manila. He joined government service as Veterinarian I, a position he holds for 11 years now.
Everyone in the municipal government took notice of Dr. Dagayloan’s untiring dedication to public service through his eagerness and enthusiasm in performing his duties. Besides, his adherence to the highest degree of professionalism and political neutrality has earned him the respect and admiration of his colleagues and friends.
Working beyond regular office hours
His designation as Veterinarian I does not include the task of serving as meat inspection officer at the municipal slaughterhouse. However, for lack of skilled and competent meat inspector in the municipality, he volunteered to do the work even beyond his regular office hours without additional pay.
If there was no vehicle that could take him to the slaughterhouse, he would wake up as early as 3:00 a.m. and walk three kilometers from his residence just to ensure that the consuming public gets wholesome, quality meat. To some, it may be burdensome. But to Dr. Alfred it means walking an extra mile for the welfare of the community.
Presently, he is a veterinarian from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., a nursing student from 5:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. and a meat inspector at 3:00 to 4:00 a.m.
Almost lost his life
In September 2006, it was the first time for the municipality through Dr. Alfred to have confiscated “double-dead” meat being sold in the municipal public market.
It was disappointing that even the former municipal mayor at that time asked him to return the confiscated meat to the meat dealer, the veterinarian recalled. But he stood pat believing that the municipal government should protect the health and welfare of its people.
Dr. Alfred continued with his advocacies. He filed cases against the offenders that got him death threats in return. And on one fateful day, when he was about to confiscate beef and pork that did not undergo ante mortem examinations, Dr. Alfred was shot four times - hitting his chest, arm, thigh and head. By God’s grace, he survived that tragic incident. The bullet that was meant to end his life did not pierce through his skull, giving a second lease on his life to continue his campaign against unscrupulous practices among meat dealers/traders.
After six months of recuperating, he opted to report even in crutches for duty, dismissing any fear to prevent him from serving the public.
His other advocacies
He advocates food safety as a concern of everyone and the value of meat inspection in order to have healthy and safe meat on the table.
Moreover, he is conducting lectures on livestock production and, at the same time, teaches the farmers the basics of financial management.
In 2012 Dr. Alfred initiated an aggressive Rabies control program aimed at stamping out rabies in the municipality by 2020 in support of the Bureau of Animal Industry’s vision.
His team is conducting house-to-house anti-rabies vaccination in all barangays of the municipality, crossing rivers and hanging bridges and climbing the hills even on weekends just to reach out to all barrio folks in the remote barangays, serving all and sundry regardless of political affiliation, religion or tribe.
His services go beyond his municipality, as he gives lectures on livestock raising in other municipalities in Zamboanga del Norte. He had been to Subanen communities in the municipalities of Siocon, Baliguian, Gutalac, Liloy, Sindangan, Godod, Siayan, Salug and Tampilisan to impart his knowledge about livestock production. This earned him recognition from Provincial Indigenous People Coordinating Unit (PIPCU).
The tragic event in 2006 which left him with scars and a metal plate implanted in his left arm did not stop Dr. Alfred to continue serving the people with utmost diligence and dedication to better the lives of the people in the community.
