Pet owners bring their dogs to Plaza Independencia, Cebu City to avail of the free anti-rabies vaccination in this June 25, 2016 file photo.
Cebu City, Philippines — In celebration of the Rabies Awareness Month this March, 38 barangays in Cebu City were recognized for being rabies free.
The 38 barangays were given certificates on Monday morning, March 25, 2019, by the Cebu City Government through the Department of Veterinary Medicine and Fisheries (DVMF).
Of the 38, 36 were commended for being rabies free from 2007. These are barangays Adlaon, Cambinocot, Guba, Lusaran, Mabini, Paril, Taptap, Kamagayan, Parian, San Roque, Sto. Niño, Sinsin, Sudlon 1, Tabunan, Tagba-o, Pasil, Sudlon 2, Agsungot, T. Padilla, San Nicolas Proper, Buot, Tinago, Suba, Labangon, Calamba, Pung-ol Sibugay, Pamutan, Sta. Cruz, Lorega San Miguel, San Jose, Sirao, Banilad, Day-as, Hipodromo, Kalubihan, and Kasambagan
The barangays that have been rabies free since 2013 are barangays Carreta and Binaliw.
Cebu City City Administrator Nigel Paul Villarete, head of DVMF Dr. Alice Utlang, and Cebu City Health Officer Dr. Alma Corpin were present to hand over the certificates to the respective barangays.
Utlang said she is happy with the fact that there are a lot of rabies-free barangays in Cebu City. But she is still looking forward for a rabies free Cebu City in the coming years.
Her advice to other barangays who are not rabies free yet is to make sure that they remind dog owners in their area to have their canines vaccinated.
“Dapat sila mo totok sa pag pa schedule ug pa bakuna sa dogs sa ilang barangay” said Utlang.
(They should focus on scheduling vaccination for the dogs in their barangay.) /bmjo