CITY OF SAN FERNANDO --- The Department of Agriculture for Central Luzon (DA RFO III) celebrated this year's World Rabies Day with the theme “All for 1, One Health for All!” over the weekend.
The event was led by the Integrated Laboratories Division under the leadership of DA RFO III Rabies Coordinator Dr. Milagros Mananggit.
The celebration was attended by veterinarians and staff from provincial, city, and municipal veterinary offices in Central Luzon.
Mananggit discussed knowledge about rabies, provinces where the threat is high, and cases of rabies in Central Luzon.
Her presentation also included an analysis of Republic Act No. 9482 or also known as the Anti Rabies Act of 2007, components of the National Rabies Prevention and Control Program, Key Strategies for Rabies Elimination or components of STOP-R which means Socio-Cultural, Technical, Organizational/One Health, Policy and Legislative, and Resources, and milestones and challenges in the anti-rabies program.
DA RFO 3 Regional Technical Director Dr. Arthur Dayrit led the opening of the event.
"Our theme today is very beautiful. Oneness, we are fighting and eliminating rabies as one. Let us strengthen our collaboration, equality, and health system against this highly fatal disease,” Dayrit said.
Dr Alyssa Marie G. Garcia, Project Veterinarian of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), shared the successes and lessons learned under the Japan and Philippines One Health Rabies (JAPOHR) project.
At the end of the celebration, the DA hailed the performance of veterinary offices.
The awards include Best Provincial Veterinary Office in Rabies Prevention and Control Program - PVO Aurora; Best City Veterinary Office in Rabies Prevention and Control Program - CVO Palayan City, Nueva Ecija; Best Municipal Veterinary Office in Rabies Prevention and Control Program - MVO Sta. Maria, Bulacan; Best LGU in Rabies Surveillance with Remote Laboratory - PVO Bulacan; and Outstanding LGU Rabies Coordinator - Dr. Agatha Pauline de Leon of PVO Bataan.
