VIGAN CITY, Ilocos Sur (PIA) — More residents of Ilocos Sur now have better access to timely animal bite treatment as the Department of Health opened an Animal Bite Treatment Center (ABTC) in Cabugao town.
The facility was built under the Health Facility Enhancement Program (HFEP) of the Department of Health (DOH), which aims to improve public health services by constructing new and upgrading existing public health facilities nationwide.
Municipal Health Officer Vanessa Sablay said that the ABTC will not only serve Cabugao residents but also function as a referral center for nearby rural health units, including Sinait, San Juan, and Magsingal.
“Before the ABTC was inaugurated on March 18, we had to refer [animal bite patients] to the Provincial Health Center in Vigan City, which is located at least 30-45 minutes away from Cabugao. Many patients could not complete their vaccinations or did not receive the vaccines at all,” Sablay said in a phone interview on Mar. 26.
To address this issue, health officials at the rural health unit underwent specialized training and sought accreditation as an Animal Bite Treatment (ABT) package provider from the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) and the DOH.
“Even though we have been rabies-free, we continue to see a rise in animal bite cases due to the increasing number of pet owners in the municipality. We can now accommodate more patients with this new facility,” she added.
According to DOH Regional Director Paula Paz Sydiongco, the ABTC provides post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) and wound care for animal bite victims.
Rabies PEP includes wound washing, a dose of human rabies immune globulin (HRIG), and a rabies vaccine administered at the first medical visit. Additional vaccine doses are given on days three, seven, and 14.
“Rabies treatment is free at ABTCs. If you are bitten or scratched by a dog or cat, please come here immediately to receive prompt care, as rabies is a fatal viral infection if not addressed immediately,” Sydiongco said.
With the recent increase in PhilHealth’s ABT package coverage from P3,000 to P5,850, the cost of essential PEP services—including the rabies vaccine, HRIG, wound care, tetanus toxoid, antibiotics, and medical supplies—will be fully covered.
Sydiongco also urged patients to complete at least three doses of the anti-rabies vaccine for maximum effectiveness.
“If you are bitten by a cat or a dog, wash the bitten area immediately for 10 to 15 minutes with soap and water and observe the animal for 14 days for signs of rabies. Avoid putting garlic on wounds as it may cause complications, and avoid getting “tandok” to prevent tetanus,” Sydiongco warned.
The DOH-Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit reported four rabies cases in the region from Jan. 1 to Mar. 8 this year, which is a 33 percent decline compared to the same period in 2024, when there were six cases.
Each province, including Dagupan City in Pangasinan, reported one suspected rabies case, except Ilocos Norte, which reported none.
In 2024, the Ilocos Sur Provincial Health Office recorded 28,463 animal bite cases, including one fatality in San Juan town.
By building more ABTCs, the DOH aims to improve access to anti-rabies vaccines and eliminate rabies in the region.
As of now, the Ilocos Region has 78 accredited ABTCs: Ilocos Sur has 18, Ilocos Norte six, La Union 10, and Pangasinan 43. (CCMT/JMCQ, PIA Ilocos Sur)
