ILOILO — The Iloilo provincial government has rolled out a province-wide dog vaccination campaign aimed at boosting rabies prevention and protecting public health, with authorities targeting at least 70 percent of the province’s total dog population this year.
Rabies is a viral infection of the central nervous system that is almost always fatal once symptoms appear. It is transmitted through the bite, scratch, or saliva of an infected animal, most commonly dogs and cats.
The campaign officially kicked off on Tuesday, February 3, at the San Rafael municipal gymnasium, led by Provincial Veterinarian Dr. Darel Tabuada alongside Mayor Roel Belleza, through the Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO).
The kickoff activity offered free anti-rabies vaccinations in partnership with the Municipal Agriculture Office (MAO), complemented by on-site dog health consultations, an animal health advocacy talk by Dr. Arjay Moralidad of ASVET, Inc., and messages of support from participating government agencies. Private partners also showcased pet-related products during the event.
The initiative seeks to strengthen community-based animal health management and reinforce collaboration among government agencies, private stakeholders, and local communities. Barangay officials and frontline workers — including barangay captains, kagawads assigned to health and agriculture committees, barangay health worker leaders, barangay tanods, and municipal health workers — were invited to participate.
San Rafael was chosen as the kickoff site as it has the smallest recorded dog population in the province, with only 1,815 dogs.
For 2026, the PVO aims to vaccinate at least 70 percent of Iloilo’s dog population after the provincial government, under Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr., allocated P9 million to procure around 21,000 vaccine vials.
Last year, the province vaccinated 289,495 dogs, or 78.69 percent of the estimated 367,907 total dog population.
“Rabies is a zoonotic disease that is 100% fatal when the virus reached the brain. The Iloilo Provincial Government through Provincial Rabies Control Committee under the leadership of Gov. Toto Defensor envisioned to eliminate this deadly disease by 2030,” Tabuada said.
Rabies symptoms may include fever, headache, agitation, confusion, difficulty swallowing, excessive salivation, paralysis, and death.
“Please do your share. Submit your dog to rabies vaccination. Be a responsible dog owner. Be part of the solution, not the problem. Together we can make Iloilo as rabies free province,” Tabuada said.
In line with the campaign, the provincial government urged all 43 local government units (LGUs) to allocate their own budgets for dog vaccination programs, particularly for hiring dog vaccinators to conduct house-to-house and barangay-level vaccination.
Based on 2025 data, the LGUs with the highest dog populations were:
* Passi City – 20,441
* Lambunao – 16,814
* Oton – 16,377
* Cabatuan – 16,116
* Sta. Barbara – 15,200
The province hopes sustained vaccination efforts and stronger LGU participation will push Iloilo closer to its goal of becoming a rabies-free province by 2030./PN
