Taguig steps up anti-rabies drive

MANILA, Philippines - The Taguig City government has stepped up its anti-rabies drive by offering free animal vaccination against the disease in all its 28 barangays.

Taguig City Mayor Lani Cayetano said the free vaccination is being offered year-round and not only during the month of March which is marked anually as "Rabies Awareness Month."

Cayetano said the free vaccination is given by the Office of the City Agriculture Office and the Office of the City Veterinarian.

The City Health Office meanwhile provides free anti-rabies shots for people inflicted with the virus through the city’s two Animal Bite Treatment Center (ABTC) in the barangays of Ibayo-Tipas and North Signal.

“The best way to prevent rabies infection is through vaccination programs. Though our Health Office offers free anti-rabies vaccines for those bitten by rabid animals, it is imperative that we start from the root and that is through the vaccination of our pets,” Mayor Cayetano said.

According to Taguig Agriculture Office head Emelita Solis, there is a year-round free animal vaccination drive in all of the city’s barangays. The first one for this year was conducted on January 16 and vaccinated a total of 192 animals in Western Bicutan alone.

Solis added that just for the months of January and February, a total of 3,269 pets were gien free vaccination in 13 barangays of Taguig.

CIty Health officer-in-charge Dr. Isaias Ramos said there were no cases of rabies reported in Taguig for the last two years.

Mayor Cayetano is urging pet-owners to be responsible in taking care of their pets and ensure that the animals  are vaccinated. - Mike Frialde