Manila, March 6 -- The Iloilo provincial government is ramping up efforts to reduce rabies cases with 33 operational animal bite centers across hospitals and rural health units.

Iloilo Provincial Health Office Head Dr. Maria Socorro Quinon on Thursday emphasized the importance of raising public awareness about rabies as the nation observes Rabies Awareness Month this March with the theme "Rabies-Free na Pusa't Aso, Kaligtasan ng Pamilyang Pilipino."

Available data showed the province had 12 human deaths out of the 40,183 animal bites in 2021, four deaths of the 46,308 cases in 2022, five deaths out of the 72,805 bites in 2023, and five out of the 70,405 bites last year.

"Majority of our animal bites are caused by dogs because these are...