Dog vaccination in 10 Iloilo towns needs boost
ILOILO – The Provincial Rabies Control Committee (PRCC) and Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) will be giving 10 local government units (LGUs) in the province more focus for them to achieve their dog vaccination goal this time around.
These are San Joaquin, Igbaras, Tigbauan, Zarraga, Janiuay, Pototan, Banate, San Rafael, Bingawan, and Passi City.
The PRCC tapped these 10 LGUs and encouraged them to create and activate their rabies control committees, whose function is to implement, supervise and monitor the functionality of their Rabies Control Program. This will help them improve their rabies control accomplishment records.
PVO head Dr. Darel Tabuada said the above-mentioned localities had the lowest dog vaccination accomplishment coverage in 2023 since they lack vaccinators.
The dog vaccination accomplishments of the 10 LGUs last year were: San Joaquin (3,711 out of 7,023 dogs), Igbaras (4,620 out of 9,226 dogs), Tigbauan (4,221 out of 7,357 dogs), Zarraga (3,415 out of 6,072 dogs), Janiuay (8,014 out of 13,730 dogs), Pototan (2,302 out of 10,154 dogs), Banate (1,842 out of 6,398 dogs), San Rafael (1,404 out of 2,916 dogs), Bingawan (1,423 out of 5,865 dogs), and Passi City (8,312 out of 15,905 dogs).
To achieve at least 70 percent dog vaccination accomplishment this year, Tabuada said PVO personnel will augment vaccinators from the province.
The mass dog vaccination this year kicked off on February 1.
“Nag- kick off kita sang mass vaccination sang last February 1 sa municipality sang Maasin,” Tabuada said.
It will last for three months or until April 2024; thus, the PVO is asking for the cooperation and support of LGUs, barangays and dog owners as it aims to reach all 1,901 barangays in the province and have at least 70 percent accomplishment.
The I l oilo provincial government, headed by Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr., allotted P8 million for the purchase of 20,150 vials of vaccines distributed to 42 towns and Passi City this year.
The P20,150 vials of vaccines could cover 70 percent of the total dog population in the province.
LGUs, meanwhile, should allot funds to hire dog vaccinators.
As of Dec. 31, 2023, some 228,984 dogs, or 75.75 percent of the 302,302 total population in the province, were vaccinated./