The month of March is being observed as Rabies Awareness month, as declared in Executive Order No. 84 series of 1999 to advocate the importance of animal vaccination with this year’s theme “Rabies Free na Pusa’t Aso, Kaligtasan ng Pamilyang Pilipino.” In line with this, Animal Kingdom Foundation (AKF), Pilmico Foods Corporation (Pilmico) together with its premium pet food brand Maxime and other partner organizations conducted month-long activities in Capas, Tarlac. Their initiatives emphasized the significance of responsible pet ownership and implemented anti-rabies vaccination in several areas.
Last March 25, AKF conducted free seminars, pet registration, and pet vaccination in Brgy. Sto. Rosario, Capas, Tarlac. Maxime for its part, showed its support for the shelter’s advocacies by donating 48 bags of Maxime products. Blessie Zarzuela, National Sales Manager of Maxime, believes that pet owners should ensure their pets are protected against viral diseases such as rabies. “Maxime is one with AKF’s advocacy on spreading awareness on the importance of vaccination for our pets. As advocates of responsible pet ownership, we believe that the shelter’s initiatives are good avenues to encourage pet owners to have their fur babies registered and vaccinated. And hopefully, more pets can be vaccinated in the future so that rabies will be prevented,” she said.
More than 300 pets including cats and dogs were vaccinated during the event while dog owners went home with free bags of Maxime dog food. Marty Tabug, Admin Officer and Field Investigator of AKF expressed his gratitude to Pilmico and Maxime for their all-out support. “Thank you Pilmico for your generosity! Thank you Maxime Dog Food for joining us in our activity,” Tabug said.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does private sector participation in public health drives like this complement government efforts?
Government-led vaccination drives often face resource constraints in reaching remote communities consistently. Private sector partners like Pilmico and Maxime contribute product donations, logistics support, and community visibility that amplify the reach and impact of nonprofit-led efforts. The donation of 48 bags of dog food at the Tarlac event served both as a practical incentive — encouraging more pet owners to participate — and as a brand commitment to the broader animal welfare mission beyond commercial product sales.
What is Rabies Awareness Month in the Philippines and what is its legal basis?
Rabies Awareness Month in the Philippines is observed every March, as declared under Executive Order No. 84 series of 1999. The observance was established to advocate for the importance of animal vaccination and responsible pet ownership as public health imperatives. The 2022 theme — “Rabies Free na Pusa’t Aso, Kaligtasan ng Pamilyang Pilipino” — emphasized that a rabies-free pet population directly protects Filipino families, linking animal health to household safety in the clearest possible terms.
What activities did Animal Kingdom Foundation, Pilmico, and Maxime carry out in Capas, Tarlac for Rabies Awareness Month?
On March 25, 2022, Animal Kingdom Foundation (AKF) held a community event in Brgy. Sto. Rosario, Capas, Tarlac that included free seminars on responsible pet ownership, pet registration, and anti-rabies vaccination. Pilmico and Maxime supported the activity by donating 48 bags of Maxime dog food, which were distributed to participating pet owners as an incentive for bringing their animals to the vaccination drive. More than 300 pets — both cats and dogs — were vaccinated during the event.
Why is community-level vaccination in provincial areas like Tarlac particularly important for national rabies control?
Rabies control requires high vaccine coverage across the entire dog and cat population, not just in urban centers. Unvaccinated animals in provincial and rural communities represent transmission gaps in the national herd immunity framework. Community vaccination drives in areas like Capas, Tarlac are critical to reaching populations that may face barriers to veterinary services — whether geographic, economic, or informational. The impact of a single community event that vaccinates over 300 animals has a compounding preventive effect across the surrounding area.
What does pet registration accomplish beyond the vaccination record itself?
Pet registration creates an official, traceable record of an animal’s ownership, vaccination status, and location. In a public health context, registration supports outbreak tracing — identifying where a potentially infected animal has been and which humans may have been exposed. It also supports enforcement of the Responsible Pet Ownership Act, which requires registered, vaccinated dogs as a condition of ownership. Unregistered and unvaccinated dogs represent both a legal gap and a surveillance gap in the national rabies elimination effort.
