THE Department of Health (DOH) has declared three of the 16 towns of Zamboanga Sibugay province as rabies-free after registering zero record on animal bites for two years in a row.

Declared as rabies-free by the DOH Zamboanga Peninsula Center for Health Development-Rabies Prevention and Control Program are the municipalities of Olutanga, Mabuhay and Talusan, according to Zamboanga Sibugay veterinarian Elmer Nueva.

Nueva said the three towns have maintained zero human and animal rabies cases since 2017 as they have properly implemented and enforced their ordinances related to rabies and animal management.

Nueva said that the three towns have already vaccinated around 70 percent of the almost 4,000 dogs’ population.

He said the vaccination effort is in line with the vision of Governor Wilter Yap Palma for a “rabies-free Zamboanga Sibugay” before his third term ends in 2022.

The DOH has awarded plaques of recognition to the towns of Olutanga, Mabuhay, and Talusan during the 2019 Dugong Bayani Awards to be held Friday, November 22, in this city.

The awarding is to recognize them for the unwavering support, tireless dedication and excellent implementation of the rabies program towards the goal of rabies-free Philippines. (SunStar Zamboanga)