TUNGAWAN, Zamboanga Sibugay – In a town where animal bites outpace all other health problems, Mayor Lito Aniñon is betting big on prevention: pouring P1 million into life-saving anti-rabies vaccines so residents won’t have to choose between treatment and hunger.
At the municipal health office, Dr. Jeanny Bhie Bayking sees the spike firsthand. “We are expecting that last year’s number will be doubled,” she said, alarmed by the trend. Tungawan recorded more than 1,000 cases of animal bites in 2024. By June this year, the figure had nearly been matched.
For families, the costs are staggering. A single vial of vaccine is priced at P1,200. Even if shared between two patients, it still costs P600 each per session — and most need three to four sessions. Free vaccines in government facilities often run out just when cases peak.
“Many of our people simply cannot afford the treatment,” Bayking said. “That’s why the local government’s support means so much.”
Health first
Aniñon, who took office this year, said the surge in cases made it clear where to begin.
“I see the need for the local government to make health services accessible to the people,” he told the Daily Sun Chronicle.
Animal bites now top Tungawan’s health problems, followed by tuberculosis and pulmonary disease, and then hypertension and diabetes. For the new mayor, this means strengthening the entire health system, not just plugging the gaps.
Telemedicine lifeline
Aniñon has pushed for innovation, linking Tungawan with the telemedicine program of the Zamboanga City Medical Center.
The partnership allows local doctors to send test results — from x-rays to lab work — directly to specialists in Zamboanga City, cutting the need for costly and time-consuming travel.
“Instead of going to Ipil where most diagnostic laboratories are located, patients can undergo examinations right here in our health center,” Bayking said.
For patients in far-flung barangays, the move is more than convenience; it’s access to care they might otherwise never get.
Zero billing relief
The mayor also sealed an agreement with Ipil Doctors Hospital to implement a “zero billing” scheme for Tungawan residents. The LGU shoulders the costs, sparing families the crushing burden of hospital bills.
“We are doing this because we know how difficult it is for the people to come up with the amount to pay their hospital expenses,” Aniñon said.
From vaccines to telemedicine to zero billing, Aniñon frames these moves as just the beginning. His message is simple: Tungawan’s health system should no longer be a luxury for the few, but a lifeline for all.
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