In celebration of the Rabies Awareness Month, the Department of Agriculture (DA) through its Regional Animal Disease and Diagnostic Laboratory (RADDL) in partnership with the Department of Health-Caraga and Surigao del Norte Veterinary Office spearheads the island-wide animal rabies vaccination and castration in Siargao Island. DA has chosen Siargao since the ins and outs of canine in the island can be easily controlled.

Collaborative actions are now being undertaken for the possible declaration of the island as rabies-free. “With the support from the LGU officials and other concerned agencies, we have already created the Siargao Island Rabies Coordinating Body and conducted information drive to the municipalities of the island,” said Regional Rabies Coordinator Dr. Esther Cardeño.

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Based on the 2016 Dog Population and Anti-Rabies Vaccination Record of RADDL, there were already 74 barangays (63%) out of 118 that have undergone anti-rabies vaccination in Siargao Island and the remaining barangays are the target which  the team visited.

Cooperation among the pet owners and residents in the community has been apparent. “We got an outright support when we shared this goal with the residents and local officials in the municipalities. Now we can see them encouraging their neighbors to have their dogs vaccinated and some officials are now strengthening the implementation of their ordinance that supports the prevention and control of rabies,” said Provincial Veterinarian Life Shiela Laogo-Cubillanes.

The problem with stray dogs has also been the concern in some municipalities in the island. Siargao recorded a total of 370 dog-bite incidents in 2016 where most cases happened in the municipality of Dapa. Despite this record, there were no incidents of death due to rabies from 2013 to the present.

 “We’re glad that the veterinarians and other technical people from the government have made the effort in coming to our municipality just for our pets to be vaccinated. We will do our part to help hasten the declaration of Siargao Island as rabies-free,” said Brgy. Chairman Ferdinand Corneta of Poblacion, Dapa.

According to Cardeño, completely eliminating rabies will not only promote public safety but also uplift the tourism industry in the island.

 DA together with the provincial and municipal rabies coordinators are now finalizing the necessary data and evidence in compliance with the implementing guidelines for declaring areas as rabies-free zones. (Fretcher Magatao, DA-Caraga)