1st K-9 academy in SEA breaks ground in Clark

MANILA – Southeast Asia’s first K-9 training academy begins its construction Wednesday in Clark, Pampanga.

The training facility, to rise at the Clark Special Economic Zone, will have a starting capacity of 100 K-9 force and 100 handlers.

“It is capable of providing all the quality training phases, techniques, and best practices for the skills and aptitude enhancement of dogs, as well as the certification, evaluation, and development of research doctrines,” the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said in its Facebook post.

The academy aims to conduct research on WD pedigrees, their procurement, and breeding, veterinary care and maintenance of resources, among others.

The academy will house five organizations—the Canine Development Center, Canine School, Canine Breeding Center, Canine Hospital, and Kennel Management and Biosecurity.

During the groundbreaking, Department of Transportation Arthur Tugade said the academy would be open for all other branches of government.

“Hindi lang ililimit ‘yung mga ma-train na K-9 sa pangangailangan ng PCG, ito ay iaalok at ipapagamit ko rin sa iba pang kagawaran, departamento, at ahensiya ng gobyerno (We won’t limit the trained K-9s to the needs of the PCG, we’re going to offer and let it be utilized by other departments and agencies of the government),” Tugade said.

The academy is the result of a partnership among the PCG, Philippine Ports Authority and the Clark Development Corporation.