SAN PABLO CITY, LAGUNA | The San Pablo City Veterinary Office has brought its anti-rabies vaccination service directly to pet owners in Barangay 6D, as part of the city’s continuing effort to protect dogs and cats and reduce the risk of rabies transmission in the community.
The vaccination activity was led by City Veterinarian Dr. Fara Jayne Ursolino, with James Alvin Llarena serving as team leader, in coordination with Barangay 6D Chairman Jeng Mendoza and other barangay officials.
The barangay-based approach makes vaccination more accessible to pet owners who may find it difficult to bring their animals to a veterinary facility. By taking the service closer to residential communities, the city can encourage more owners to have their dogs and cats vaccinated as part of responsible pet ownership.
The San Pablo City Veterinary Office is headed by Orsolino, who has served as the city veterinarian. Government and veterinary records also identify her as the city veterinarian for San Pablo City.
Rabies prevention remains an important public health concern in the Philippines. The Department of Health says rabies is a highly fatal viral infection commonly transmitted through the bite or scratch of an infected animal. The agency’s Rabies Prevention and Control Program promotes vaccination and public education as key measures in preventing the disease.
Vaccinating dogs and cats against rabies is important not only for the animals themselves but also for the families and communities around them. Keeping pets vaccinated reduces the likelihood that an infected animal will transmit the virus to people through bites or scratches.
The Department of Health recommends regular vaccination of pets and responsible practices such as preventing animals from freely roaming the streets. It also stresses that rabies is preventable through proper vaccination and timely medical attention following an animal bite or scratch.
The Philippines has had a national legal framework for rabies prevention since the passage of Republic Act No. 9482, or the Anti-Rabies Act of 2007. The law established measures for rabies prevention and control, including responsible pet ownership and vaccination of dogs.
The DOH has set national goals of eliminating human rabies and working toward a rabies-free Philippines, underscoring the importance of sustained vaccination and community-based prevention efforts.
The vaccination activity in Barangay 6D also highlights the role of barangay officials in making public veterinary services accessible to residents. Under the city’s current arrangement, barangays that want the vaccination team to visit must make a request to the City Veterinary Office.
This allows the veterinary team to organize its outreach activities while giving barangays an opportunity to bring the service directly to their pet-owning residents.
San Pablo has previously undertaken initiatives aimed at protecting animal welfare and public safety. In 2018, the city opened its first pet evacuation center as part of its disaster preparedness program, with the City Veterinary Office among the agencies involved.
The latest anti-rabies vaccination drive continues that broader public-service role, with prevention taking place not only at the veterinary office but within the communities where pets and their owners live.
For pet owners, the message is straightforward. Having dogs and cats vaccinated against rabies is a relatively simple preventive measure that can help protect animals, families and the wider community from a disease that remains almost universally fatal once symptoms appear.
The City Veterinary Office’s barangay outreach therefore serves a purpose beyond a single vaccination day. By making preventive care more accessible, the program gives more San Pablo pet owners an opportunity to take an important step toward keeping their animals healthy and their communities safer.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
