ILOILO – As of Monday, 163,069 dogs, or 53.02 percent of the 307,578 total dog population in the province, have been vaccinated against rabies.
Vaccination is ongoing in 42 towns and Passi City to reach the target of at least 70 percent, or 215,000 of the total dog population by the end of May, said Dr. Darel Tabuada, head of the Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO).
One of Tabuada’s strategies to accelerate the vaccination is to send personnel to the towns with the lowest vaccination accomplishment.
“Gapadala ko staff sa mga manubo ang vaccination rate kay lack of manpower gid ang concern,” Tabuada said in an interview with Panay News yesterday.
Here is the breakdown per town of the 163,069 vaccinated dogs: Oton (13,428), Alimodian (2,960), Leon (13,710), Cabatuan (13,710), Janiuay (6,999), Lambunao (9,160), Calinog (2,035), Bingawan (1,423), Mina (2,542), Pototan (2,163), Badiangan (87), Maasin (2,215), Anilao (3,101), Banate (1,365), Dumangas (4,904), Barotac Nuevo (1,384), Dingle (10,124), Dueñas (1,419), Passi City (4,057), San Enrique (1,613), Barotac Viejo (3,373), Ajuy (5,052), Sara (309), Lemery (2,513), San Rafael (1,257), Concepcion (3,625), San Dionisio (6,310), Batad (2,506), Estancia (232), Balasan (2,446), and Carles (2,589).
“Nami ang ila [towns] response kay sa three months, 17 percent na lang ang nabilin. Kabalo man ta nga tama kabudlay ang vaccination sa ground, house-to-house daan kag halos tanan layaw ang ayam,” said Tabuada.
The mass dog vaccination began last February.
This year, Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. allotted P8 million for 20,150 vials of vaccines distributed to 42 towns and Passi City. It could cover 70 percent of the total dog population in the province.
Because of this, Tabuada is calling on dog owners to have their dogs vaccinated to avoid rabies.
The province has recorded one human death due to a dog bite – a 28-year-old man from Igbaras town.
A stray dog bit his left index finger at the esplanade in Guimbal town, according to Dr. Maria Socorro Colmenares-Quiñon, head of the Iloilo Provincial Health Office (IPHO).
Days after, the victim showed signs and symptoms of rabies. He was brought to the Western Visayas Medical Center in Mandurriao, Iloilo City where he died a few days later.
Meanwhile, here is the breakdown of the 307,578 total dog population in the province for 2022:
* 1st District – Oton (15,440), Tigbauan (7,357), Guimbal (5,769), Miag-ao (10,414), San Joaquin (11,103), Igbaras (9,226), and Tubungan (2,940);
* 2nd District – Pavia (5,566), Santa Barbara (7,217), New Lucena (4,273), Leganes (6,035), Zarraga (6,072), San Miguel (5,596), Alimodian (5,181), Leon (3,432);
* 3rd District – Cabatuan (14,063), Janiuay (13,730), Lambunao (14,970), Calinog (8,224), Bingawan (1,951), Mina (4,147), Pototan (10,154), Badiangan (1,951), Maasin (4,561);
* 4th District – Anilao (3,487), Banate (6,398), Dumangas (10,216), Barotac Nuevo (3,045), Dingle (9,000), Dueñas (3,403), Passi City (15,905), San Enrique (3,720); and
* 5th District – Barotac Viejo (9,670), Ajuy (7,500), Sara (11,408), Lemery (6,072), San Rafael (2,916), Concepcion (6,492), San Dionisio (6,310), Batad (2,506), Estancia (4,683), Balasan (3,560), and Carles (8,001)./PN
