Senators on Tuesday, June 3, called on the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) to increase its coverage for anti-rabies vaccinations in light of rabies cases, as reported by the Department of Health (DOH).

During a Senate Committee on Health and Demography hearing, Senator Raffy Tulfo raised concerns about the insufficient financial assistance provided by PhilHealth at Animal Bite Centers across the country. According to Tulfo, current coverage only amounts to P5,000 to P6,000, far below the actual cost of treatment, which can reach up to P20,000.

"May balanse pang P15,000 yung pasyente. Ano gagawin? Eh di pupunta pa sa pulitiko (The patient still has a balance of P15,000. What will they do? They'll end up going to a politician)," Tulfo said.

"Bakit di niyo na lang taasan yung coverage niyo, from P5,000 pwede niyo siguro gawing P15,000 (Why don't you just increase your coverage—from P5,000, maybe you can raise it to P15,000)," he added.

PhilHealth currently has 866 accredited Animal Bite Centers nationwide.

Senator Christopher "Bong" Go, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health, cited DOH data showing 55 rabies cases from January to March 2025. In 2024, a total of 426 deaths due to rabies were recorded.

"I have previously raised my concern on this and strongly urged the DOH to intensify its anti-rabies efforts, particularly its vaccination campaign across the country," Go said.

He stressed that the cost of vaccination may discourage the public from seeking treatment.

"Baka yung mga kababayan natin sa takot ayaw na pong magpa-injection dahil mahal ang babayaran (Some of our fellow citizens might be afraid and no longer want to get injections because the cost is too expensive)," Go said.

"Baka maaring taasan niyo po ang inyong coverage para di matakot yung mga kababayan na magpa-injection at magpagamot dahil meron pong PhilHealth na masasandalan nila (Maybe you could increase your coverage so that our fellow citizens won’t be afraid to get injections or seek treatment, knowing they can rely on PhilHealth for support)," he added.

Senator Tulfo also pointed out that over half of the people who receive anti-rabies vaccines are pet owners, while the rest are mostly individuals bitten by stray animals.

"So dapat yung LGU, alam ko nabigyan ng budget yan o may sariling budget yan, nagbibigay ng libreng anti-rabies vaccines sa mga pets o nagbibigay ng anti-rabies doon sa mga stray dogs (So the LGU, which I believe has been given a budget or has its own budget, should be providing free anti-rabies vaccines for pets or administering anti-rabies shots to stray dogs)," he said.

Responding to the concerns, Atty. David Monsalud of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said that more than 400,000 individuals nationwide have received anti-rabies vaccinations.

However, Tulfo emphasized that this number must increase, given the large pet population across the country.