ILOILO – Pet owners are encouraged by the Iloilo provincial government, through its Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO), to have their dogs vaccinated against rabies.
On Wednesday, Feb. 1, PVO personnel headed by Dr. Darel Tabuada had a kick-off ceremony for mass dog vaccination in Leon town.
Tabuada said Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. allotted P8 million for 20,150 vials of vaccines distributed to 42 towns and Passi City for this year.
It could cover 70 percent of the total dog population in the province or 215,000 heads of the 307,578 total population.
“Please submit your dogs for rabies vaccination. Your cooperation will save many lives in the future,” Tabuada encouraged pet owners.
Rabies is a vaccine-preventable zoonotic disease (communicable from animals to humans) mostly transmitted through animal bite.
Department of Health (DOH) records show that rabies infections in the country, mostly due to unvaccinated dogs, has a case fatality rate of 100 percent. The World Health Organization (WHO) also considers rabies an extremely deadly disease, saying that “once clinical symptoms appear in humans, rabies is virtually 100 percent fatal.”
Tabuada also said the provincial government forged a vaccination agreement with local government units (LGUs). The former would purchase rabies vaccines, and the above-mentioned 21,000 vials cost a total of P9 million, he said.
Meanwhile, LGUs will use their funds to hire vaccinators and provide training, allowances, and other supplies.
“Ang agreement with LGUs nga instead of procuring rabies vaccines, ang ila pundo sa rabies program will be diverted sa ila barangay vaccinators and other logistics. Kami na ang bahala sang rabies [vaccines],” Tabuada said.
LGUs will be responsible for inoculating their dog population, and the PVO has given them three months to do so.
Tabuada said the PVO is willing to extend technical assistance for the training of dog vaccinators.
They may also send rabies vaccine vials to the LGUs if they cannot claim theirs on the fifth floor of the Iloilo provincial capitol.
‘ILOILO RABIES-FREE BY 2030’
Meanwhile, Tabuada said the provincial government is aiming to declare the entire province of Iloilo rabies-free by 2030.
Achieving a rabies-free status is good for tourism and the well-being of the residents, he said.
Latest PVO data shows that in total, there are now 26 rabies-free areas in the province – six from Carles, 18 from Concepcion, and two from Ajuy – all of which are located in island barangays.
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
