Law Summary
Declaration of Policy
- The State aims to protect and promote public health regarding rabies.
- Establishes systems for rabies control, prevention, and eradication.
- Promotes responsible pet ownership.
Key Definitions
- Defines terms like bitten, concerned officials, dog, euthanasia, impound, owner, pound, rabies transmission, vaccination, stray dog, responsible pet ownership, among others.
- Clarifies specific definitions pertinent for the implementation of the law, such as pre- and post-exposure prophylaxis.
National Rabies Prevention and Control Program
- Mandates a multi-agency, multi-sectoral program chaired by the Bureau of Animal Industry (DA).
- Components include mass dog vaccination, centralized dog registration, impounding and field control, IEC campaigns, pre-exposure treatment for high-risk personnel, post-exposure treatment, and promotion of responsible pet ownership.
- Collaboration of DA, DOH, DILG, DepEd, LGUs, DENR, NGOs, and POs is emphasized.
National Rabies Prevention and Control Committee (NRPCC)
- Composed of representatives from key government departments and sectors.
- DA-BAI chairs the committee, with DOH-NCDPC as vice-chair.
- Secretariat duties belong to DA-BAI.
- Responsibilities include program formulation, monitoring, budgeting, research recommendations, and annual evaluations.
Component Activities
- Mass registration and vaccination of dogs by LGUs; use of licensed veterinarians for vaccinations.
- Establishment of a central database managed by BAI.
- Guidelines for impounding stray/unregistered dogs with animal welfare considerations.
- Education campaigns incorporated into school curricula and public observances (Rabies Awareness Month, World Rabies Day).
- Free provision of pre- and post-exposure treatments.
- Encouragement of responsible pet ownership, including reporting stray dogs and dog bites.
Responsibilities of Pet Owners
- Mandatory vaccination and registration of dogs.
- Proper maintenance and control of dogs, including leashing and muzzling aggressive dogs.
- Immediate reporting of dog bites and proper observation of biting dogs for 14 days.
- Responsibility for medical expenses of bite victims.
Government Agencies' Responsibilities
- Department of Agriculture: upgrades rabies laboratories, ensures vaccine supply, conducts mass vaccinations, maintains surveillance and rabies-free zones, approves necessary drugs, trains staff, and leads research.
- Department of Health: ensures human vaccine supply, manages post-exposure treatment, develops treatment guidelines, maintains human rabies surveillance, provides pre-exposure treatment to high-risk workers.
- Department of Education: integrates rabies education into curricula, assists in awareness campaigns, and promotes RPO in schools.
Local Government Units (LGUs)
- Register and vaccinate dogs annually;
- Enforce impounding and control of stray dogs with proper pounds.
- Enforce leash and confinement rules.
- Allocate funds and enact ordinances supporting rabies control.
- Prohibit dog meat trade.
- Appoint veterinarians and establish veterinary offices.
Role of NGOs and Academe
- Support community mobilization, health education, mass campaigns, rabies case surveillance, and eradication efforts.
Impounding, Field Control and Disposition
- Unregistered and stray dogs are impounded.
- Dogs unclaimed after 72 hours may be adopted or humanely euthanized.
- Standards for disposal and euthanasia strictly enforced.
Dog Population Control
- Educational campaigns promoting spaying/neutering.
- Incentives for owners to spay/neuter dogs.
- Dogs impounded thrice must be spayed/neutered before release.
Penalties for Violations
- Fines from P500 to P25,000 for failure to vaccinate, register, leash dogs, failure to observe biting dog, and refusal to pay medical expenses.
- Fines and imprisonment for dog meat trade and illegal euthanasia by electrocution.
- Deportation of aliens convicted under this law.
Appropriations and Funding
- Initial P100 million appropriated for program implementation from DOH, DA, DILG, and DepEd budgets.
- LGUs to use internal revenue allotments and local funds.
- Continuous funding to be included in annual General Appropriations Act.
Implementation and Miscellaneous Provisions
- DA to issue necessary IRR within 60 days.
- Additional administrative orders may be issued to support program objectives.
- Existing rules inconsistent with the law are repealed or modified.
- Provisions declared unconstitutional shall not affect the validity of the remaining provisions.
- Law effectivity stipulated 15 days after publication.
This comprehensive framework ensures a coordinated approach involving government agencies, LGUs, NGOs, and the public to effectively control and eventually eradicate rabies in the Philippines.