The Cebu City government is facing a shortage of anti-rabies vaccines due to reduced funding for animal medicines and a sudden increase in demand across barangays. According to the Department of Veterinary Medicine and Fisheries (DVMF), aside from growing public concern over rabies, the vaccine supply is quickly depleting because of intensified vaccination campaigns in various areas. This shortage highlights the worsening challenges facing the city's anti-rabies program.
Problems include insufficient budget, unclear data on the actual dog population, and rising vaccine demand as the city ramps up its campaign. In an interview, DVMF Head Jessica Maribojoc said the supply shortage began with a smaller allocation for purchasing animal medicines, followed by increased demand due to rising rabies cases from 2025 to 2026. She added that deploying more trained vaccinators to barangays also contributed to faster vaccine depletion due to accelerated campaigns.
"The increased demand for rabies vaccines was also driven by rising rabies cases and the availability of trained vaccinators in the barangays," Maribojoc stated. The DVMF revealed that Cebu City still needs around 10,000 to 11,000 vials of vaccine to reach the target number of vaccinated dogs to prevent the spread of rabies. According to Maribojoc, 10,903 dogs have been vaccinated to date, while the estimated dog population ranges from 106,200 to 265,500. Maribojoc noted that the vaccine shortage already existed when she assumed office as officer-in-charge in January 2026.
