Rui Caetano, councilor for the Socialist Party (PS-M) in the Funchal Municipal Chamber, has proposed a recommendation for the urgent implementation of a municipal rodent control plan.
Caetano argues that the rise in the rat population poses a public health risk and criticizes the "clear inertia" of both the Regional Government and the local council. He stated that sporadic distribution of rodenticide without a strategy does not solve the structural problem.
The socialist highlighted that he has received complaints from merchants and farmers, emphasizing that the issue goes beyond aesthetics or material damage, being a priority public health concern due to the risk of disease transmission. The proposal calls for a coordinated and planned municipal strategy, involving collaboration between various public and private entities, including parish councils and the Regional Government.
