Cebu City is facing a shortage of anti-rabies vaccines for dogs even as the city government moves to strengthen regulations on pet ownership and stray animal management.
The concern was raised during the Cebu City Council’s regular session on May 19, where members discussed a proposed ordinance titled “Guidelines on Responsible Pet Ownership and Humane Community Pet Care and Stray Animal Management in the City of Cebu.”
Authored by Councilor Pablo Labra II, the measure aims to address rising stray animal numbers, increasing animal bite cases, improper waste disposal, and low vaccination coverage in the city.
During the session, the Department of Veterinary Medicine and Fisheries (DVMF) disclosed that available vaccine supply remains below target levels needed to reach herd immunity among dogs.
Dr. Jessica Maribojoc of the DVMF said the city has about 11,000 vaccine doses on hand, short of the estimated 16,000 required for full coverage.
The shortage prompted Councilor Phillip Zafra to call for immediate procurement of additional doses through a supplemental budget instead of waiting for the next annual allocation.
The proposed ordinance also includes stricter provisions on pet registration and identification, including lifetime registration with microchipping for P600 and regular registration for P200.
The proposal comes amid continuing debate over animal welfare policies in the city, including a petition filed by animal welfare groups questioning provisions of Cebu City Ordinance No. 2526, Series of 2019.
The groups raised concerns over registration fees, mandatory spaying and neutering, and penalties for noncompliance, describing some provisions as burdensome for low-income pet owners.
They also argued that the Anti-Rabies Act of 2007 provides for free vaccination and questioned whether associated fees effectively contradict that policy.
Despite these concerns, city officials said the new ordinance is intended to improve responsible pet ownership, strengthen rabies prevention, and address growing stray animal issues in Cebu City. (LLP)
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