| Title | Anti-Rabies Act of 2007 (RA 9482) | | Bill | S. No. 2541 | | | H. No. 654 | | | Republic of the Philippines | | | Congress of the Philippines | | | Metro Manila | | | Thirteenth Congress | | | Third Special Session | | | Begun and held in Metro Manila, on Monday, the nineteenth day of February, two thousand seven. | | |——?? —— | | | Republic Act No. 482 | | | AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE CONTROL AND ELIMINATION OF HUMAN AND ANIMAL RABIES, PRESCRIBING PENALTIES FOR VIOLATION THEREOF AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS | | | THEREFOR | | | Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives | | | of the Philippines in Congress assembled: | | | Section 1. Title. – This Act shall be known as the “ Anti-Rabies Act of 2007”. | | | Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. – It is the declared policy of the State to protect and promote the right to health of the people.
Towards this end, a | | | system for the control, prevention of the spread, and eventual eradication of human and animal Rabies shall be provided and the need for responsible | | | pet ownership established. | | | Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. – For the purpose of this Act, the following terms shall mean: | | |(a) Bitten refers to an act by which a Dog seizes, cuts or grips with its teeth so that the skin of a person has been wounded, pierced or scratched. | | |(b) Concerned Officials refers to barangay officials, health workers, police officers or government veterinarians. | |(c) Direct Supervision refers to range supervision where physical presence of the veterinarian within the barangay is necessary. | | |(d) Dog refers to a common quadruped domestic animal belonging to the order carnivora (male or female), scientifically known as canis familiaris. | | |(e) Euthanasia refers to the process of painless death to Dogs and other animals. | | |(f) Impound refers to seize and hold in the custody of the law. | | |(g) Owner refers to any person keeping, harboring or having charge, care or control of a Dog including his/her representative. | | |(h) Pound refers to a public enclosure for stray animals. | | |(i) Public Place refers to any place open to the public like parks, malls, markets, streets, etc. | |(j) Rabies refers to a highly fatal disease caused by a lyssa virus, transmitted mainly through the bite of an infected animal and is characterized | | | by muscle paralysis, hydrophobia and aerophobia, and other neurological manifestations. | | |(k) Rabies transmission refers to the transmission or passage of the Rabies virus through a bite by an infected animal, or through contamination with | | | virus-laden saliva on breaks in the skin and of mucous membranes such as the eyes, the lips, the mouth, or the genital organs. | | |(l) Rabies Vaccination/Immunoprophylaxis of Humans refers to the inoculation of humans, with modern day rabies vaccines or Rabies immunoglobulin, by | | | a trained doctor or nurse under the supervision of a qualified medical practitioner. | |(m) Rabies Vaccination of Dogs refers to the inoculation of a Dog with a Rabies vaccine by a licensed government or private veterinarian or trained | | | individual under the direct supervision of a licensed veterinarian. The services of the said trained individual shall be limited only to Rabies | | | Vaccination Injection in Dogs and only during government mass vaccination campaigns. | | |(n) Post-exposure Treatment (P. E. T. ) refers to an anti-Rabies treatment administered after an exposure to Rabies, which include local wound care, | | | Rabies vaccine, with or without anti-Rabies immunizing agent. | | |(o) Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (P. E. P. ) refers to Rabies vaccination administered before an exposure to Rabies to those who are at high risk of getting | | | Rabies. | |(p) Stray Dog refers to any Dog leaving its Owner’s place or premise and no longer under the effective control of the Owner. | | |(q) Veterinary or Human Barbiturates refer to drugs that depress the function of the central nervous system. | | | Sec. 4. National Rabies Prevention and Control Program. – It is hereby mandated that there shall be a National Rabies Prevention and Control Program | | | to be implemented by a multi-agency/multi-sectoral committee chaired by the Bureau of Animal Industry of the Department of Agriculture. The program | | | shall be a multi-agency effort in controlling and eliminating Rabies in the country.
Among its component activities include: (1) mass vaccination of | | | Dogs; (2) establishment of a central database system for registered and vaccinated Dogs; (3) impounding, field control and disposition of | | | unregistered, Stray and unvaccinated Dogs; (4) conduct of information and education campaign on the prevention and control of Rabies; (5) provision | | | on pre-exposure treatment to high risk personnel and Post Exposure Treatment to animal bite victims; (6) provision of free routine immunization or | | | Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (P. E. P. ) of schoolchildren aged five to fourteen in areas where there is high incidence of rabies as well as the (7) | | | encouragement of the practice of responsible pet ownership. The program shall be implemented by the Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of | | | Health (DOH), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and Department of Education (DepEd), as well as Local Government Units (LGUs) | | | with the assistance of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and People’s Organizations | | |(POs). | | Sec. 5. Responsibilities of Pet Owners. – All Pet Owners shall be required to: | | |(a) Have their Dog regularly vaccinated against Rabies and maintain a registration card which shall contain all vaccinations conducted on their Dog, | | | for accurate record purposes. | | |(b) Submit their Dogs for mandatory registration. | | |(c) Maintain control over their Dog and not allow it to roam the streets or any Public Place without a leash. | | |(d) Be a responsible Owner by providing their Dog with proper grooming, adequate food and clean shelter. | |(e) Within twenty-four (24) hours, report immediately any Dog biting incident to the Concerned Officials for investigation or for any appropriate | | | action and place such Dog under observation by a government or private veterinarian. | | |(f) Assist the Dog bite victim immediately and shoulder the medical expenses incurred and other incidental expenses relative to the victim’s injuries. | | | Sec. 6. Responsibilities of Government Agencies. – The following government agencies, which shall jointly implement the National Rabies Prevention | | | and Control Program, shall be tasked to: | | | A.
Department of Agriculture | | |(1) Improve and upgrade existing animal Rabies laboratory diagnostic capabilities to ensure better services to the people. | | |(2) Ensure the availability and adequate supply of animal anti-Rabies vaccine at all times. | | |(3) Undertake free anti-Rabies Vaccination of Dogs giving priority to high risk depressed areas. | | |(4) Maintain and improve animal Rabies surveillance system. | | |(5) Establish and maintain Rabies free zone in coordination with the LGUs. | |(6) Immediately facilitate for the approval of the sale and use of Veterinary and Human Barbiturate drugs and veterinary euthanasia drugs by the DOH| | | and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA). | | |(7) Strengthen the training of field personnel and the Information Education and Communication (lEC) activities on Rabies prevention and control and | | | responsible pet ownership. | | |(8) Conduct research on Rabies and its control in coordination with other agencies. | | |(9) Formulate minimum standards and monitor the effective implementation of this Act. | | |(10) Encourage collaborative activities with the DOH, DepEd, DILG, DENR, NGOs, POs and other concerned sectors. | | | B.
Department of Health | | |(1) Ensure the availability and adequate supply of DOH pre-qualified human Anti-Rabies vaccine in animal bite treatment centers at all times and shall| | | coordinate with other implementing agencies and concerned NGOs for this purpose. | | |(2) Provide Post-Exposure Treatment at the minimum expense to individuals bitten by animals suspected of being rabid which will consist of the | | | initial vaccine and immunoglobulin dose. | | |(3) Provide Pre-Exposure Treatment to high-risk personnel, such as, but not limited to, laboratory staff, veterinarians, animal handlers, vaccinators | | | and other persons working with Rabies virus for free. | | |(4) Coordinate with the DA in the development of appropriate health education strategy to inform the public on Rabies prevention and control and | | | responsible pet ownership. | |(5) Develop and maintain a human Rabies surveillance system. | | |(6) Encourage collaborative activities with the DA, DepEd, DILG, DENR, NGOs, POs and other concerned sectors. | | |(7) Immediately approve the registration of Veterinary and Human Barbiturate drugs and veterinary euthanasia drugs in coordination with the PDEA. | | | C. Department of Education | | |(1) Strengthen Rabies education program through school health teaching/curriculum. | | |(2) Assist in the Dog mass immunization campaigns in the community. | |(3) Encourage collaborative activities with the DA, DOH, DILG, DENR, NGOs, POs and other concerned sectors. | | |(4) Integrate proper information and education on responsible pet ownership in the relevant subjects in the Elementary and High School levels. | | | Sec. 7. Responsibilities of the LGUs. – LGUs, in their respective localities, shall: | | | | | |(1) Ensure that all Dogs are properly immunized, registered and issued a corresponding Dog tag for every immunized and registered Dog. | | |(2) Strictly enforce Dog Impounding activities and field control to eliminate Stray Dogs. | |(3) Ensure that Dogs are leashed or confined within the premises of the Owner’s house or Owner’s fenced surroundings. | | |(4) Allocate funds to augment the implementation of the National Rabies Prevention and Control Program, particularly on the financing of supplies and| | | human and Dog vaccines needed for immunization. | | |(5) Ensure the enforcement of Section 6 of Republic Act No. 8485 or “ The Animal Welfare Act of 1998”. | | |(6) Enact additional local ordinances that will support the National Rabies Prevention and Control Program that should include the regulation of | | | treatment locally known as “ tandok. ” | | |(7) Prohibit the trade of Dogs for meat. | |(8) With respect to cities and first class municipalities, establish and maintain a Dog Pound where Impounded Dogs shall be kept, in accordance with | | | Section 9 herein: Provided, That the other municipalities, shall, on their own, establish a Dog Pound or opt to share the expense of establishing and | | | maintaining a Dog Pound with other adjoining municipalities and/or with private animal shelters and control facilities. | | |(9) Prohibit the use of electrocution as a euthanasia procedure. | | |(10) Appoint a veterinarian and establish a veterinary office in every province, city and first-class municipality: Provided, That the other | | | municipalities shall, on their own, opt to share the expense of having a veterinary office. | | |(11) Require pet shops to post information regarding Rabies and responsible pet ownership. | |(12) For purposes of ensuring the administrative feasibility of implementing the provisions of this Act and subject to paragraph 8 of this Section, | | | the LGU shall collect the fines imposed under Section 11 subparagraphs (1), (3), (4), (5) and (6) hereof. | | | Any and all fines collected pursuant to this Act shall be used for the enhancement of the National Rabies Prevention and Control Program within the | | | locality concerned, as well as the achievement of the objectives envisioned in this Act. | | | The DILG shall ensure compliance of these responsibilities by the LGUs. | | | Sec. 8. Assistance of NGOs and the Academe. The agencies tasked to implement the anti-Rabies program shall seek the assistance and participation| | | of NGOs in any of the following activities: | | |(1) Community mobilization. | | |(2) Health education/information dissemination on Rabies and responsible pet ownership. | | |(3) Mass anti-Rabies campaign. | | |(4) Promotion of the anti-Rabies campaign during pet or any animal shows. | | |(5) Surveillance/reporting of Rabies cases in animals and humans. | | |(6) Any other activities geared towards the prevention and complete eradication of Rabies. | | | Sec. 9. Impounding, Field Control and Disposition of Unregistered, Stray and Unvaccinated Dogs. Unregistered, Stray or unvaccinated Dogs shall | | | be put in Dog Pounds and disposed of, taking into consideration the following guidelines: | | |(1) Unregistered, Stray or unvaccinated Dogs shall be impounded and kept in the LGU’s designated Dog Pound. | | |(2) Impounded Dogs not claimed after three days from the Dog Pound shall be placed for adoption to qualified persons, with the assistance of an animal| | | welfare NGO, when feasible, or otherwise disposed of in any manner authorized, subject to the pertinent provisions of Republic Act No. 8485, otherwise| | | known as the “ Animal Welfare Act of 1998”. | |(3) A fee shall be paid by Owners of Impounded Dogs to the LGU concerned, pursuant to Section 7 hereof. | | | Sec. 10. Dog Population Control. – In furtherance of the policy of this Act to eradicate Rabies, there is the need to control the Dog population and | | | minimize the number of unwanted Stray Dogs. As such, it is hereby mandated: | | |(1) That the DA, DOH, DILG, DepEd, LGUs, with the assistance of NGOs and POs shall undertake an educational and promotional campaign on responsible | | | Pet Ownership, including the option of spaying or neutering their Dogs. | |(2) That the LGUs shall provide an incentive system whereby Owners of Dogs which have been spayed or neutered will be given a subsidized or discounted| | | pet registration fee. | | |(3) That Dogs which have been impounded three times shall only be released after having been spayed or neutered, at the expense of the Pet’s Owner. | | | Sec. 11. Penalties. – | | |(1) Pet Owners who fail or refuse to have their Dog registered and immunized against Rabies shall be punished by a fine of Two thousand pesos | | |(P2, 000. 00). | |(2) Pet Owners who refuse to have their Dog vaccinated against Rabies shall be liable to pay for the vaccination of both the Dog and the individuals | | | Bitten by their Dog. | | |(3) Pet Owners who refuse to have their Dog put under observation after said Dog has Bitten an individual shall be meted a fine of Ten thousand pesos| | |(P10, 000. 00). | | |(4) Pet Owners who refuse to have their Dog put under observation and do not shoulder the medical expenses of the person Bitten by their Dog shall be | | | meted a fine of Twenty-five thousand pesos (P25, 000. 00). | | |(5) Pet Owners who refuse to put leash on their Dogs when they are brought outside the house shall be meted a fine of Five hundred pesos (P500. 0) for| | | each incident. | | |(6) An impounded Dog shall be released to its Owner upon payment of a fine of not less than Five hundred pesos (P500. 00) but not more than One | | | thousand pesos (P1, 000. 00). | | |(7) Any person found guilty of trading Dog for meat shall be fined not less than Five thousand pesos (P5, 000. 00) per Dog and subjected to imprisonment| | | for one to four years. | | |(8) Any person found guilty of using electrocution as a method of euthanasia shall be fined not less than Five thousand pesos (P5, 000. 00) per act and | | | subject to imprisonment for one to four years. | |(9) If the violation is committed by an alien, he or she shall be immediately deported after service of sentence without any further proceedings. | | | Sec. 12. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – The DA, in coordination with the DOH, DILG, DepEd, DENR, NGOs and POs shall issue the necessary | | | rules and regulations within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of this Act. | | | Sec. 13. Appropriations. – The amount of One hundred million pesos (P100, 000, 000. 00) necessary to implement the provisions of this Act shall be | | | initially charged against the appropriations of the DOH, DA, DILG and DepEd under the General Appropriations Act. For the LGUs, the requirements shall| | | be taken from their Internal Revenue Allotment and other local funds.
Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary for its continued implementation shall| | | be included in the annual General Appropriations Act. | | | Sec. 14. Separability Clause. – In case any provision of this Act is declared unconstitutional, the other provisions shall remain in full force and | | | effect. | | | Sec. 15. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two newspapers of | | | general circulation, whichever comes earlier. | | | Approved, | | | JOSE DE VENECIA JR.
MANNY VILLAR | | | Speaker of the House President of the Senate | | | of Representatives | | | This Act which is a consolidation of Senate Bill No. 2541 and House Bill No. 4654 was finally passed by the Senate and the House of Representatives | | | on February 9, 2007 and February 20, 2007 respectively. | | |. | | | Roberto P. Nazareno Oscar G. Yabes | | Secretary General Secretary of the Senate | | | House of Representatives | | | Approved: | | | GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO | | | President of the Philippines |
