TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines -- The Department of Health in Eastern Visayas has warned about the alarming rise of dog bites and deaths from rabies in the region, and appealed to all local government units to focus enough attention and resources on an anti-rabies campaign.

Dr. Nicolas Bautista, chief of the regional epidemiology surveillance unit of the DOH, said he was alarmed by the number of cases of dog bites which resulted in 18 deaths last year.

With 4,743 cases of dog bites and 18 recorded fatalities in the region last year, Eastern Visayas now has one of the highest rabies incidence and morbidity rates in the country.

And as of April this year, seven rabies cases were monitored by the regional health office.

According to Bautista, dog bites victims come to their office to ask for anti-rabies vaccine because of the apparent lack of interest among local government units in the region to help.

He said because of the "overwhelming" number of people who come to their office to ask for anti-rabies vaccine, their supply has almost run out.

"Our office has witnessed several instances of drama where parents, with their children beaten by dogs in tow, would come asking for our assistance. While we have the vaccines, we cannot just give the vaccines left and right. We determine first the gravity of the case," Bautista said.

Bautista said out of the 1,000 vials of vaccines provided by the DOH, only about 100 vials remain.

"We are asking support from our local government units to provide their own vaccines on top of information dissemination on responsible pet ownership so we can avoid rabies cases," he said.