QuestionsQuestions (Republic Act No. 7669)
The IRR were issued pursuant to Section 12 of Republic Act No. 9482 (Anti-Rabies Act of 2007), to provide procedures and guidelines for implementation.
The State policy is to protect and promote the right to health. The objectives are control/prevention of spread and eventual eradication of human and animal rabies, with emphasis on responsible pet ownership.
“Bitten” is an act where a dog seizes/cuts/grips with teeth such that skin is wounded/pierced/scratched. “Rabies transmission” is passage of rabies virus through a bite or contamination with virus-laden saliva on breaks in skin or mucous membranes (eyes, lips, mouth, genital organs).
PEP is vaccination given before exposure to high-risk persons. PET is anti-rabies treatment administered after exposure, including local wound care and rabies vaccine, with or without immunoglobulin.
The NRPCC is chaired by DA-BAI and vice-chaired by DOH-NCDPC.
Key components include: mass vaccination and registration of dogs; a central database of registered/vaccinated dogs; impounding/field control/disposition of unregistered/stray/unvaccinated dogs; rabies and responsible pet ownership IEC campaigns; PEP for high-risk personnel and PET for animal-bite victims via ABTC/ABCs; free pre-exposure prophylaxis for schoolchildren in high-incidence areas; and promotion of responsible pet ownership.
DA-BAI acts as secretariat, responsible for sending notices and keeping minutes, records, and documents relative to meetings/deliberations.
LGUs must implement mass registration and vaccination in accordance with the Committee’s program. Initial national mass registration and vaccination should start not later than March 31, 2008 and annually thereafter. Vaccination must be done by a licensed veterinarian or trained vaccinators under direct veterinary supervision.
Only inactivated rabies vaccines registered/licensed by the BAI and recommended by the Committee may be used; vaccination protocol for special cases is issued by the Committee when necessary.
Pet owners must maintain an LGU-issued registration card containing permanent dog details and the complete vaccination record (including vaccination date and attending veterinarian with corresponding PRC license and TIN/PTR numbers), and present it during annual revaccination or when necessary.
The owner must immediately report the incident to concerned officials for investigation/appropriate action and place the dog under observation by a government or private veterinarian.
The dog must be observed for 14 days. The dog shall not be killed or euthanized during the observation period.
It must be isolated and observed accordingly, and upon death it must be submitted for laboratory examination.
If not claimed after three days (72 hours) from the dog pound, it is placed for adoption to qualified persons (with assistance of an animal welfare NGO when feasible) or otherwise disposed of in accordance with the Animal Welfare Act and the IRR guidelines.
The use of electrocution as a euthanasia procedure is prohibited. Euthanasia (for dogs not redeemed/adopted or beyond allowable pound stay) must follow methods allowed under AO 21-B series of 1999 and never by electrocution.
Examples include: failure/refusal to register and immunize—fine of ₱2,000; refusal to vaccinate—owner pays for vaccination of the dog and the persons bitten; refusal to place the biting dog under observation—₱10,000; refusal to both observe and shoulder medical expenses—₱25,000; refusing to leash outside—₱500 per incident; and release of an impounded dog—fine between ₱500 and ₱1,000.
Trading dogs for meat: fine not less than ₱5,000 per dog and imprisonment of one to four years. Electrocution: fine not less than ₱5,000 per act and imprisonment of one to four years.
Rabies-Free Zones are established by DA in coordination with DOH, in accordance with OIE guidelines for declaration of a free zone, as recommended/covered by the program and committee-related processes.