Iloilo allocates PHP 9M for rabies vaccination drive

By Mariela Angella Oladive

The Iloilo provincial government has allocated PHP 9 million to procure around 21,000 vials of rabies vaccine for a three-month, province-wide mass dog vaccination campaign launched in 2026.

Spearheaded by the Iloilo Provincial Veterinary Office (IPVO), the program aims to vaccinate at least 70 percent of the province’s estimated 337,953 dog population, based on the office’s latest inventory.

During the kickoff event in San Rafael on Feb. 3, Provincial Veterinarian Dr. Darel Tabuada emphasized that the campaign’s success depends on public cooperation and responsible pet ownership. He urged dog owners to bring their pets for vaccination.

San Rafael was chosen as the launch site due to its smallest recorded dog population of 1,815.

The event featured mass rabies vaccinations, on-site dog health consultations, animal health advocacy talks, and support messages from government agencies. Private partners also showcased pet-related products.

In 2025, the province vaccinated 289,495 dogs, covering 78.69 percent of the estimated 367,907 dog population, according to the Rabies Prevention and Control Accomplishment Report. A total of 8,770 cats were also vaccinated.

Among the province’s 43 towns, Cabatuan achieved 100 percent rabies vaccination coverage, followed by Tigbauan (99.50 percent), Banate (97.87 percent), Leganes (96.06 percent), and Igbaras (95.63 percent).

Meanwhile, towns with the lowest coverage included Bingawan (34.44 percent), Badiangan (41.32 percent), Calinog (52.68 percent), San Enrique (53.90 percent), Dueñas (56.64 percent), and Passi City (56.73 percent).

To help control the dog population, 1,210 dogs were castrated and 343 were spayed.

Despite the relatively high vaccination coverage, the province recorded 48 rabies-positive cases from 184 samples submitted for laboratory testing, along with one confirmed human death due to rabies.

Rabies is a zoonotic disease that is nearly always fatal once clinical symptoms appear.

Symptoms may include fever, headache, agitation, confusion, difficulty swallowing, excessive salivation, paralysis, and, eventually, death.

The ongoing vaccination drive supports the province’s goal of making Iloilo rabies-free by 2030.