QUEZON CITY, (PIA) --Some 500 Taguigueño teachers, non-teaching staff, students, parents, and guardians learned about rabies infection, proper handwashing, and responsible pet ownership from experts pooled by the City Health Office (CHO) and City Veterinary Office during a lecture-symposium held at the Ricardo P. Cruz Sr. Elementary School in Taguig City.

Conducted by the City Government of Taguig on March 15, the event was held in line with the observance of Rabies Awareness Month.

 “Part of being a responsible pet owner ay hindi lang mapaliguan, mapakain, o malaro-laro [ang inyong alagang hayop] pag may spare time kayo, kundi pati ang masiguro na sila ay napapabakunahan [laban sa rabies] kasi napakahalaga na maintindihan natin na bahagi ito ng responsibilidad natin. Masasabi tayong responsible pet owners kapag sinusuportahan natin yung tamang pagbakuna ng ating mga pets,” Mayor Lani Cayetano said during the event.

The local government of Taguig has established Animal Bite Treatment Centers in 5 barangays in the City where residents may get vaccinated for free against rabies. To protect people and pets from rabies infection, Taguigueños are encouraged to get their pets vaccinated against rabies.

March is Rabies Awareness Month in the Philippines, per Executive Order No. 84, series of 1999. Rabies is a human infection that can be transmitted mainly through bites or scratches from an infected animal, like dogs and cats. Human infections are both preventable and curable. (taguig pio/pia-ncr)