The Bacolod City government has rolled out a house-to-house pet vaccination program to bolster its anti-rabies campaign.
Led by the City Veterinarian’s Office(CVO), the initiative aims to make the city rabies-free, amid an increase in reported cases, a press release from the Bacolod City Communications Office (BCCO) said.
Mayor Greg Gasataya said “this is part of the program that has been implemented by the city vet, which is part of our commitment to further improve the services offered by the city government.”
Dr. Janine Sarthou, Assistant City Veterinarian, said that the effort combines mass vaccination with enhanced education for pet owners to promote responsibility and maximize coverage.
“We are doing this to eradicate, and achieve a rabies free city. This is also an opportunity for us to educate every pet owner”, she said.
CVO data indicates that around 80,000 dogs were vaccinated in 2025. For 2026, the target has been expanded to at least 100,000 dogs under the updated prevention strategy.
Dr. Sarthou added that vaccinations are free for Bacolod residents. Teams are deployed to different barangays, conducting household visits according to a set schedule, with completion tentatively targeted for July to August.
The local government has allocated P6 million for the program, which covers free anti-rabies shots as well as a free spay and neuter (kapon) initiative.*
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