ILOILO – The Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) is urging dog owners to participate in a province-wide mass dog vaccination campaign starting Feb. 1, in collaboration with local government units (LGUs).
This initiative, announced by PVO head Dr. Darel Tabuada, follows the provincial government’s allocation of P8 million for the purchase of 20,150 vials of vaccines.
Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. leads this effort, aiming to distribute the vaccines across 42 towns and Passi City this year.
The 20,150 vials are expected to vaccinate 70 percent of the province’s total dog population.
The official kick-off ceremony will be held in Maasin.
Tabuada confirmed that while the campaign would begin on Feb. 1, Dingle town had already started its vaccinations due to the limited number of vaccinators available for its 33 barangays.
LGUs are responsible for hiring dog vaccinators to administer the vaccines provided by the provincial government.
The mass vaccination campaign is scheduled to continue until April 2024.
As of Dec. 31, 2023, 228,984 dogs, representing 75.75 percent of the province’s total dog population of 302,302, have been vaccinated.
Tabuada emphasizes that vaccinating dogs is an effective way to prevent rabies cases in the province.
In 2023, the province recorded five rabies deaths, including two in Carles and one each in Igbaras, New Lucena, and Mina.
Here’s the breakdown of the province’s dog population and the corresponding dog vaccination accomplishment each LGU:
* Oton (14,930 of 15,440), Tigbauan (4,221 of 7,357), Guimbal (4,985 of 5,769), Miag-ao (9,084 of 10,414), San Joaquin (3,711 of 7,023), Igbaras (4,620 of 9,226), Tubungan (2,905 of 2,940);
* Pavia (6,127 of 5,566), Santa Barbara (8,790 of 7,217), New Lucena (2,885 of 4,273), Leganes (5,975 of 6,035), Zarraga (3,415 of 6,072), San Miguel (4,344 of 5,596), Alimodian (3,393 of 5,181), Leon (3,108 of 3,432), Cabatuan (13,146 of 14,063);
* Janiuay (8,014 of 13,730), Lambunao (9,236 of 14,970), Calinog (7,679 of 8,224), Bingawan (1,423 of 5,865), Mina (3,184 of 4,147), Pototan (2,302 of 10,154), Badiangan (2,259 of 1,951), Maasin (2,816 of 4,561);
* Banate (1,842 of 6,398), Dumangas (7,925 of 10,216), Barotac Nuevo (1,980 of 3,045), Dingle (10,205 of 9,000), Dueñas (2,340 of 3,403), Passi City (8,312 of 15,905), San Enrique (4,007 of 3,720), Barotac Viejo (6,872 of 9,670);
* Ajuy (8,161 of 7,500), Sara (10,297 of 11,408), Lemery (4,942 of 6,072), San Rafael (1,404 of 2,916), Concepcion (4,111 of 5,296), San Dionisio (4,769 of 6,310), Batad (3,207 of 2,506), Estancia (3,485 of 4,683), Balasan (3,055 of 3,560), and Carles (7,218 of 8,001)./PN
