The Pasig City local government kicked off Rabies Awareness Month by providing free anti-rabies vaccination, RFID microchipping, and spay or neuter for pets in the city on Wednesday, March 1, at the City Hall Quadrangle. According to the Pasig Public Information Office (PIO),156 dogs and cats were inoculated with the anti-rabies vaccine while 133 pets were microchipped. Around 125 pets, who were pre-registered for the event, underwent spay or neuter operations. The program, led by the Veterinary Services Department, aimed to ensure that pets in the city are protected from a variety of illnesses and from becoming carriers of infectious diseases. The event also hoped to promote anti-rabies vaccination as well as spay or neuter procedures for pets in order to attain a “Rabies-Free City.” The local government also awarded the barangays in Pasig that had the best rabies program and the best field control of strays. (Pasig PIO / MANILA BULLETIN)
Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto called for the public’s cooperation with the local government to eradicate rabies in the city by 2030. “Sana mahikayat pa natin ang ating mga kapitbahay, kamag-anak na may alaga na i-avail ang mga serbisyo ng ating city veterinary office. Sila ay handang maglingkod sa inyo (Let us encourage our neighbors and relatives who have pets to avail of the services being offered by our city veterinary office. They are ready to serve you),” Sotto said. He also called for a sustained anti-rabies services for stray animals in the city. Vice Mayor Robert “Dodot” Jaworski Jr. highlighted the responsibility of pet owners to prioritize the health and well-being of their pets. “Rabies affects not only humans, but it is also lethal to the animal you love. Being a responsible owner, kailangan natin ipaalam sa ating mga kasamahan sa komunidad na kailangan natin sila dalhin sa mga health center para magkaroon ng anti-rabies vaccines (we need to inform the members of our community that we need to bring them to health centers to get the anti-rabies vaccines),” he said. (Pasig PIO / MANILA BULLETIN)
The Pasig Veterinary Services Department also offered free anti-rabies vaccination and RFID microchipping for pets on March 2 at 9 Kamias Street, NAHA NAPICO, in Barangay Manggahan). It will continue the services on March 3 at the MIREA Residence Clubhouse in Barangay Santolan (Exclusive for MIREA residents only) from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Department of Agriculture - Bureau of Animal Industry  (DA-BAI) Director and National Rabies Prevention and Control Committee (NRPCC) Chair Dr. Paul Limson; Department of Health - Disease Prevention and Control Bureau (DOH-DPCB) Director Dr. Razel Nikka Hao and Program Manager for Rabies Dr. Raffy A. Deray; Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) - Pasig City Director Visitacion Martinez; Philippine Veterinary Medical Association (PVMA) Immediate President Dr. Bernard Baysic; and DOH-Metro Manila Center for Health Development (MMCHD) Regional Director Aleli Sudiacal attended the event. The city government was supported by Vitality Dog Food Philippines, PET ONE Pet Food, Nutri Chunks Philippines, and Doggies’s Choice in the campaign. The nation observes Rabies Awareness Month in March, in accordance with Executive Order No. 84, series of 1999, and as stipulated in Republic Act No. 9482 or the “Anti-Rabies Act of 2007.”