MANILA - A new city pound and animal clinic will be constructed in the capital to provide better health services and shelter for stray dogs and cats, Manila Mayor Isko Moreno said Friday.

The new animal shelter will be built inside a 3,000-square meter compound in Vitas, Tondo where a "modern" slaughter house and a vertical housing community will also be built, Moreno told reporters.

"Mayroon din kaming ginawang building para sa mga nakokolekta naming mga aso at pusa na stray o pets... mayroon din tayong lugar para sa kanila," he said.

(We will also have a building for the stray cats and dogs or pets we collect from the streets... We will also have a place for them.)

"Bibigyan natin sila ng malinis at maayos na kalalagyan [at] clinic... Kung ano 'yung required para sa mga hayop," he said.

(We will give them a clean and proper place and a clinic... We will provide what is required for these animals.)

Some 60 to 70 stray cats and dogs are collected by authorities from Manila's alleys and streets every day, said Dr. Joey Diaz, Supervising Veterinarian at the Manila Veterinary Inspection Board (VIB).

Half of these animals are retrieved by their owners while the other half are kept in makeshift cages that are already congested, Diaz told ABS-CBN News.

"We cannot allow stray animals to roam kasi may relasyon 'yan sa control ng diseases na puwedeng maisalin sa tao, like rabies and other contagious diseases," he said.

(We cannot allow stray animals to roam because it is related to the control of diseases that may affect humans, like rabies and other contagious diseases.)

Diaz said the city pound needs to upgrade its clinics as its current equipment could not effectively treat all kinds of canine and feline diseases.

"Ngayon, limited sa treatment. Hindi kami puwede makapag-confine. Also siguro [we need] a space for animal rehabilitation," he said.

(Now, we have limited treatment. We could not confine. Maybe we also need space for animal rehabilitation.)

"We have enough cages but we do not have enough space where we could place the cages," he said.

It would be good if the pound could also have enough space where animals could be segregated based on its breed and its health condition, the veterinarian said.

"Kailangan para makagalaw sila nang maayos, at para 'yung mga gustong mag-adopt, makakapamili sila ng maayos," he said.

(We need that so the animals can move easily and so that those who want to adopt could choose conveniently.)

Manila's new city pound is expected to be built early next year, as construction is set to be completed in 6 to 8 months, the mayor said.