MANILA, April 12 (Xinhua) -- The Philippine capital Manila launched on Saturday its anti-rabies campaign for a year-round activity to ensure protection of Manila's residents and visitors from the fatal virus generally associated with canines, according to the local television network GMA News.

    The intensified campaign against the disease was ordered by Manila Mayor Alfredo S. Lim who demanded that the city's 118 barangays, or lowest administrative level districts, and public and private schools be covered by the initiative.

    The city veterinary inspection board has also allotted a 530,000 peso (13,000 U.S. dollars) budget for the anti-rabies campaign, which offers free vaccination shots for some 10,000 dogs, 200 cats, four monkeys and other privately-owned animal companions.

    Through its regular information caravans held at schools and populated areas, the campaign informs residents of their responsibility to keep their pets indoors or at least put them in harnesses to avoid endangering any person

    Manila city government said it will continue to use its three pound wagons that collect stray canines and felines and detain them in a government cage pound.

    Owners of these seized animals have three days--down from 10 days previously--to collect their pets from the facility. Unclaimed animals will automatically be subjected to euthanasia, said the government.