Iloilo City is human rabies-free for more than three years with no positive canine rabies case in 2014.
Mayor Jed Patrick E. Mabilog encouraged Ilonggos to be responsible pet owners to protect public health and safety.
The City Government got a Plaque of Recognition for being a Rabies-Free City from the Department of Health (DOH) during its dissemination forum on the World Health Organization-supported Visayas Rabies Elimination Project September 22.
The city posted no positive canine rabies case last year based on data from Regional Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (RADDL-6) where brains of dogs are being examined for rabies.
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City Veterinarian Office (CVO) chief Dr. Tomas J. Forteza, Jr. said they implemented a consistent 100 percent coverage of anti-rabies vaccination on dogs in 180 barangays annually which resulted to drastic decrease of positive canine rabies.
The CVO head added they are currently working on the viability of a city-wide dog castration or sterilizing as part of dog population control.
CVO is also rehabilitating the City Pound and coordinating with various non-government organizations in eradicating stray dogs all over the metropolis.
The City Hall provided 30 percent anti-rabies vaccines annually after Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation granted 70 percent of medicine requirement from 2009 to 2014. [via Iloilo City Government]
