ILOILO – The provincial government has launched its annual province-wide dog vaccination campaign to curb rabies and safeguard public health. Spearheaded by the Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO), the initiative kicked off on February 4 in Lambunao town.
Rabies is a viral disease that affects the central nervous system, causing inflammation of the brain in mammals. It is primarily transmitted through the bite or saliva of an infected animal and is almost always fatal once symptoms appear.
According to Dr. Darel Tabuada, the provincial veterinarian, the campaign underscores the province’s commitment to rabies prevention and responsible pet ownership.
Rabies remains a serious public health concern, making vaccination efforts crucial in preventing its spread.
The PVO campaign will be rolled out across 41 other municipalities and the component city of Passi.
To ensure widespread vaccination, the provincial government, under the leadership of Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr., has allocated P9 million for the procurement of approximately 21,000 vials of rabies vaccine. This is expected to immunize 210,000 dogs across the province.
The PVO aims to vaccinate at least 70 percent of the province’s dog population this year.
In 2024, the campaign achieved an 87.37 percent vaccination rate, covering 283,755 out of 324,764 dogs in Iloilo.
To ensure full coverage across all 1,721 barangays, Tabuada is urging local government units to hire dog vaccinators who will conduct vaccinations over a three-month period.
“We appeal to LGUs to shoulder their salaries for three months. The provincial government will provide the vaccines and syringes,” he said.
Rabies cases in Iloilo have declined, with only 47 out of 152 tested dog samples returning positive for the virus in 2024, compared to 57 cases in 2023.
However, the PVO aims to further reduce rabies cases to single digits in the coming years through intensified vaccination efforts.
The PVO is also working to declare Concepcion as Iloilo’s first rabies-free municipality, setting an example for other towns.
Currently, all 11 island barangays of Concepcion have been declared rabies-free, with efforts underway to certify the remaining 14 mainland barangays this year.
“If Concepcion, with its many islands, can achieve this status, then other municipalities can do the same,” Tabuada said.
The province-wide vaccination drive is part of Iloilo’s long-term goal of achieving rabies-free status by 2030./PN
