THE Bacolod City Council passed Wednesday a resolution declaring “March” as Rabies Awareness Month.
The proposed resolution was authored by Councilor Napoleon Cordova, chair of the City Council Committee on Health and Sanitation, who noted that under the provisions of Republic Act 9482, “March is expressly recognized as Rabies Awareness Month.”
In the said Act, LGUs (local government units) in their respective localities shall ensure that all dogs are properly immunized, registered and issued a corresponding dog tag after complying with said requirements.
It also provide that dog impounding activities and field control to eliminate stray dogs must be strictly enforced, ensure that dogs are leashed or confined within the premises of the owner's house or owner's fenced surroundings and allocate funds to augment the implementation of the national rabies prevention and control program.
It also provides that a veterinary office in every province, city and first-class municipality must be established.
Mass immunization of dogs is currently conducted by the City Veterinarian Office, said Cordova.
Cordova also said that several activities for anti-rabies advocacy campaign are being scheduled by the Bacolod City Rabies Control Committee Coordinating Council (RCCC).
He also stressed that on March 26, the media launching will mark the celebration of RCCC as the city targets a five-year rabies-free Visayas from 2008-2013. (Merlinda A. Pedrosa)