Boehringer Ingelheim’s Stop Rabies initiative, implemented in partnership with the GARC Rabies Alliance, is expanding to Siargao this October as part of efforts to strengthen rabies prevention through education, vaccination, animal population control, and responsible pet ownership.
Previously rolled out in Puerto Galera, Marinduque, Laguna, and Negros Occidental, Stop Rabies works with local governments, schools, veterinarians, and community partners to help communities recognize rabies risks, respond promptly after animal bites or scratches, and seek timely medical care and vaccination.
Despite being preventable, rabies remains a serious public health concern in the Philippines, with an estimated 300 to 400 deaths and around four million animal bite cases reported annually. Children and low-income families remain particularly vulnerable, highlighting the importance of rabies awareness at home, in schools, and within communities.
Bringing Rabies Education Closer To Communities
Since its launch in the Philippines, Stop Rabies has reached thousands of students and local stakeholders across Luzon and the Visayas. In Puerto Galera, the program reached more than 2,300 elementary students, while its expansion from Calauan to Los Baños, Laguna reached over 8,000 students across 11 schools. In Negros Occidental, the initiative partnered with local government units and the Department of Education to bring rabies awareness videos and education sessions to schools and communities in Bacolod and Victorias City.
In Siargao, the program will bring together community-based education, mass dog and cat vaccination, spay and neuter activities, and responsible pet ownership through partnerships with the local government, GARC Rabies Alliance, and the Field Epidemiology Training Program Alumni Foundation, Inc. (FETPAFI).
“Rabies prevention starts with informed communities, vaccinated dogs and cats, and shared responsibility,” said Dr. Michael Banawa, Head of Animal Health, Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health Philippines, Inc. “Through Stop Rabies, Boehringer Ingelheim remains committed to advancing sustainable rabies prevention to protect animals, safeguard public health, and help build healthier communities.”
Education And Immediate Action Can Save Lives
Rabies is among the most fatal yet preventable infectious diseases. Immediate wound washing, prompt medical consultation, and timely post-exposure vaccination can prevent the disease before symptoms develop. Stop Rabies also addresses misconceptions, including the belief that only stray dogs carry rabies or that small bites and scratches are harmless.
“Rabies education saves lives because it gives people the knowledge to act before it is too late,” said Dr. Niko Ylagan, Stop Rabies Lead and Companion Animal Health Technical Manager, Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health Philippines, Inc.
As communities observe World Rabies Day, Stop Rabies continues to support the global goal of eliminating human deaths from dog-mediated rabies by 2030, while encouraging Filipino pet owners to keep their dogs and cats vaccinated and practice responsible pet ownership.
