ILOILO – From January to July this year, 153,175 dogs in this province have so far been vaccinated against rabies.
This was 49.80 percent of the total 307,578 dog population in Iloilo, according to Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) chief, Dr. Darel Tabuada.
The provincial government hopes to achieve a vaccination rate of 70%.
With three months left for this year, however, there’s a big possibility they won’t be able to hit the target, said Tabuada.
A shortage in anti-rabies vaccine is a factor, he pointed out.
For 2022, the provincial government allotted P4 million to purchase 11,000 vials of vaccines enough to inoculate 111,000 dogs.
Forty-two towns and the component city of Passi were also expected to allot a budget for additional anti-rabies vaccines. However, Tabuada revealed, some local government units (LGUs) have no budget for this or have insufficient funds to vaccinate at least 70 percent of their locality’s dog population. There’s also a dearth of vaccinators.
To address this by 2023, Tabuada disclosed that Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. decided to allot a P7 million to purchase vaccines and requested LGUs to allot funds and provide barangay-level vaccinators.
“Kita na lang ma-provide sang vaccine para maka-cover sang 70 percent sang dog population. Ang counterpart sang banwa dapat in place na subong pa lang ang barangay vaccinators,” added the PVO chief.
Here is the breakdown of the 307,578 dog population in the province for 2022: Oton (15,440), Tigbauan (7,357), Guimbal (5,769), Miag-ao (10,414), San Joaquin (11,103), Igbaras (9,226), Tubungan (2,940), 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), Cabatuan (14,063), Janiauy (13,730), Lambunao (14,970), Calinog (8,224), Bingawan (1,951), Mina (4,147), Pototan (10,154), Badiangan (1,951), Maasin (4,561), 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), 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).
Meanwhile, here is the breakdown of the 153,175 dogs that were given anti-rabies vaccines per town: Oton (13,695), Tigbauan (339), Guimbal (2,496), Miag-ao (7,430), San Joaquin (2,209), Igbaras (6,299), Tubungan (1,524), Pavia (5,499), Santa Barbara (3,050), New Lucena (6,882), Leganes (5,972), Zarraga (2,700), San Miguel (3,802), Alimodian (3,879), Leon (7672), Cabatuan (11,571), Janiauy (445), Lambunao (5,269), Calinog (1,190), Bingawan (1,412), Mina (11), Pototan (3,497), Maasin (1,412), Anilao (3,227), Banate (5,036), Dumangas (7,160), Barotac Nuevo (1,540), Dingle (8,635), Passi City (1,828), San Enrique (321), Barotac Viejo (9,245), Ajuy (7,940), Sara (2,542), Lemery (2,660), Concepcion (6,418), San Dionisio (1,181), Batad (745), Estancia (2,141), Balasan (1,165), and Carles (40).
The province already recorded five human deaths and 79 canine rabies cases this year, said Tabuada.
The PVO chief also campaigned for pet owners to have their pets vaccinated on a regular basis and to keep them caged or leashed to avoid them becoming strays./PN
