Implementing Rules for Anti-Rabies Act

Policy, program mandate, and institutional structure

The declared policy of the state is to protect and promote the right to health of the people by providing a system for control, prevention of spread, and eventual eradication of human and animal rabies, including establishment of the need for responsible pet ownership (Section 2).
A National Rabies Prevention and Control Program is mandated to be implemented through a multi-agency/multi-sectoral committee chaired by the BAI under the Department of Agriculture (Section 4).
The Program is implemented by DA, DOH, DILG, DepEd, and LGUs, with assistance from DENR, NGOs, and POs (Section 4).
A National Rabies Prevention and Control Committee (NRPCC) is created, chaired by DA-BAI and vice-chaired by DOH-NCDPC (Rule 4.1).
The Committee has members from DA, DOH, DILG, DepEd, and one representative each from DENR, NGOs, POs, academe, LGUs, and PCMVLP, appointed by the Chairman (Rule 4.1).
The DA-BAI acts as the secretariat, responsible for notices and keeping minutes, records, and documents relating to meetings and deliberations (Rule 4.1.2).
The Committee holds regular monthly meetings or as often as necessary (Rule 4.1.3).
The Committee must establish organizational structure and internal rules within fifteen (15) days after the effectivity of the IRR (Rule 4.1.4).
The Committee must formulate the Program and recommend additional rules needed for implementation (Rule 4.1.5).

Definitions and core terms

“Bitten” refers to a dog’s act of seizing, cutting, or gripping with teeth such that skin is wounded, pierced, or scratched (Section 3(a)).
“Concerned officials” include barangay officials, health workers, police officers, or government veterinarians (Section 3(b)).
“Direct supervision” refers to range supervision where the veterinarian’s physical presence within the barangay is necessary (Section 3(c)).
“Dog” means a common quadruped domestic animal of the order Carnivora, scientifically known as Canis familiaris (Section 3(d)).
“Euthanasia” means painless death to dogs and other animals (Section 3(e)).
“Impound” means seize and hold an animal in custody of the law (Section 3(f)).
“Owner” means any person keeping, harbouring, or having charge, care, or control of a dog, including the person’s representative (Section 3(g)).
“Pound” means a public enclosure for stray animals (Section 3(h)).
“Public Place” means any place open to the public such as parks, malls, markets, streets, etc. (Section 3(i)).
“Rabies” is a highly fatal disease caused by a lyssa virus, transmitted mainly through bite of an infected animal and characterized by muscle paralysis, hydrophobia, aerophobia, and other neurological manifestations (Section 3(j)).
“Rabies transmission” covers passage through a bite by an infected animal or contamination with virus-laden saliva on breaks in skin and mucous membranes such as eyes, lips, mouth, or genital organs (Section 3(k)).
“Rabies Vaccination/Immunoprophylaxis of Humans” means inoculation of humans with modern rabies vaccines and/or rabies immunoglobulin by a trained doctor or nurse under supervision of a qualified medical practitioner (Section 3(l)).
“Rabies Vaccination of Dogs” means inoculation of dogs with rabies vaccine by a licensed government or private veterinarian or trained individual under direct supervision of a licensed veterinarian, limited to rabies vaccination injection during government mass vaccination campaigns (Section 3(m)).
“Post-exposure Treatment (P.E.T)” means anti-rabies treatment after exposure, including local wound care and rabies vaccine, with or without anti-rabies immunizing agent (Section 3(n)).
“Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (P.E.P)” means rabies vaccination administered before exposure to those at high risk (Section 3(o)).
“Stray Dog” means any dog leaving the owner’s place or premise and no longer under effective control of the owner (Section 3(p)).
“Veterinary or Human Barbiturates” are drugs that depress the central nervous system (Section 3(q)).

Program component activities and committee functions

The Program includes mass vaccination of dogs, central database system, impounding/field control/disposition of unregistered, stray, and unvaccinated dogs, and information/education on prevention and control (Section 4; Rule 4.2.1 to 4.2.4).
The Program provides pre-exposure treatment for high-risk personnel and post-exposure treatment for animal bite victims (Section 4; Rule 4.2.5).
The Program provides free routine immunization or pre-exposure prophylaxis for schoolchildren aged five to fourteen in areas of high rabies incidence (Section 4; Rule 4.2.6).
The Program encourages responsible pet ownership through committee-led activities and citizen reporting (Section 4; Rule 4.2.7).
The Committee may create technical working groups that are multi-sectoral or multi-agency to assist the Committee (Rule 4.1.1).
The Committee’s responsibilities include: identifying activities, projects, and priority areas; preparing work and financial plans for inclusion in agency budget proposals; identifying sources of funds and authorizing receipt of grants/donations; preparing operational budget recommendations for annual appropriations; monitoring implementation; coordinating and recommending rabies research; recommending declaration of rabies-free zones with DA and DOH; and conducting annual national performance evaluation and preparing a national annual report (Rule 4.1.7(a) to (h)).
Existing rabies programs initiated by a memorandum of agreement between DA, DOH, DILG, and DECS (now DepEd) dated May 9, 1991 are integrated/absorbed into the Program whenever possible (Rule 4.1.6).

Dog registration, vaccination, and central database

LGUs must implement mass registration and vaccination of dogs in accordance with the Program set by the Committee (Rule 4.2.1(a)).
The initial national mass registration and vaccination must commence not later than March 31, 2008 to coincide with Rabies Awareness Month, and thereafter must be held annually (Rule 4.2.1(b)).
Dog vaccination must be performed by a duly licensed veterinarian or by a trained vaccinator under direct veterinary supervision (Rule 4.2.1(c)).
Dogs must be registered by their owners with their LGUs; owners with vaccinated dogs must submit vaccination record/proof signed by a duly licensed veterinarian upon registration (Rule 4.2.1(d)).
Ownership transfer and subsequent registration of dogs are covered by rules to be set by the Committee (Rule 4.2.1(e)).
The Committee prescribes the dog tagging/identification system used by LGUs and private practitioners and may impose collection of fees for it (Rule 4.2.1(f)).
Only inactivated rabies vaccines that are registered and licensed by the BAI and recommended by the Committee may be used (Rule 4.2.1(g)).
The Committee issues vaccination protocols for special cases when necessary (Rule 4.2.1(h)).
Mass vaccination conducted by NGOs, POs, and private entities must be coordinated with the respective LGUs (Rule 4.2.1(i)).
The BAI establishes a central database system for registered and vaccinated dogs, serving as depository of records submitted monthly by LGU Veterinary Services (Rule 4.2.2(a)).
The BAI collates from LGU reports the total registered, vaccinated dogs, and other relevant information as basis for policy formulation (Rule 4.2.2(b)).

Impounding, field control, rabies education, and P.E.T/P.E.P

The Committee sets and establishes standards/guidelines for the impounding, field control, and disposition of unregistered, stray, and unvaccinated dogs (Rule 4.2.3(a)).
The Animal Welfare Division of DA-BAI establishes a central registry of government and private animal control facilities (Rule 4.2.3(b)).
Rabies education and Responsible Pet Ownership (RPO) modules approved by the Committee must be included in elementary and high school curriculum (Rule 4.2.4(a)).
Public lectures on responsible pet ownership and rabies awareness must be conducted (Rule 4.2.4(b)).
Rabies Awareness Month (March) and World Rabies Day (28th of September) must be observed nationwide (Rule 4.2.4(c)).
Rabies informational materials must be made readily available by all concerned agencies (Rule 4.2.4(d)).
All hired personnel or volunteers of private or government facilities, including veterinary clinics, hospitals with human rabies units, rabies diagnostic laboratories, animal control facilities, and similar establishments must receive rabies pre-exposure prophylaxis prior to working (Rule 4.2.5(a)).
The Committee, in consultation with the DOH, sets guidelines for implementation of P.E.P, including establishment of Animal Bite Treatment Centers (ABTCs) and Animal Bite Clinics (ABCs) (Rule 4.2.5(b)).
ABTCs provide post-exposure treatment to all animal bite victims from all cities and/or municipalities (Rule 4.2.5(c)).
The Committee identifies areas with high rabies incidence necessitating P.E.P for schoolchildren aged five to fourteen (Rule 4.2.6(a)).
The Committee must ensure that the DOH, in coordination with LGUs, DepEd, and DSWD provides free routine pre-exposure prophylaxis for those schoolchildren in identified areas (Rule 4.2.6(b)).
The Program, through the DOH, encourages inclusion of anti-rabies vaccination among recommended childhood immunization (Rule 4.2.6(c)).

Pet owner duties and bite incident rules

All pet owners must regularly vaccinate their dogs against rabies and maintain a registration card containing all vaccinations for accurate records (Section 5(a)).
The pet owner must keep the LGU-issued registration card containing permanent number and dog physical characteristics, including age, color, sex, breed, distinguishing marks, and others (Rule 5(a)1).
The registration card must be presented during annual revaccination and whenever deemed necessary (Rule 5(a)2).
The registration card must contain all rabies vaccinations, indicating registration number of the dog, date of vaccination, attending veterinarian with corresponding updated PRC license, TIN and PTR numbers, and must be signed by the veterinarian (Rule 5(a)3).
Pet owners must submit their dogs for mandatory registration (Section 5(b)).
The pet owner must renew dog registration with LGU Veterinary Services, Municipal Agriculture Offices, or appropriate government office annually (Rule 5(b)1).
Pet owners must maintain control over their dogs and must not allow them to roam streets or any public place without a leash (Section 5(c)).
Leash length must not exceed 1.5 meters (5 feet) and required dog tag must be attached to the dog collar/harness; aggressive dogs must be muzzled in public places (Rule 5(c)1).
The Committee must issue guidelines on handling dogs in designated dog activity areas (Rule 5(c)2).
Pet owners are responsible for proper collection and disposal of excreta/feces (Rule 5(c)3).
Pet owners must provide proper grooming, adequate food, and clean shelter, maintaining good human-animal relationship and a health management program (Section 5(d); Rule 5(d)1).
Within twenty four (24) hours, pet owners must immediately report any dog biting incident to concerned officials for investigation and must place the biting dog under observation by a government or private veterinarian (Section 5(e)).
During observation, the dog must not be killed or euthanized during the 14 days from the biting incident (Rule 5(e)1).
If the dog dies during the observation period, the owner must immediately submit it for rabies laboratory examination (Rule 5(e)2).
If an unvaccinated dog is bitten by a confirmed rabid animal, it must be euthanized immediately and properly disposed of (Rule 5(e)3).
Dogs bitten by another dog suspected rabid or of unknown status must be confined and maintained under veterinary supervision for 6 months (Rule 5(e)4).
If the animal was previously vaccinated and can be identified with certainty (e.g., tattoo), it must be revaccinated immediately and confined for at least 90 days; post-exposure vaccination of uncertain effectiveness should be discouraged (Rule 5(e)5).
Pet owners must assist the dog bite victim immediately and shoulder medical expenses and other incidental expenses relative to injuries (Section 5(f)).
Humans bitten by dogs must be provided treatment by the appropriate government or private medical practitioner, and animals bitten by dogs must be treated by the appropriate government or private veterinary practitioner (Rule 5(f)1).

Government agency responsibilities and operational duties

DA must improve and upgrade animal rabies laboratory diagnostic capabilities with confirmatory capabilities, comply with WHO and OIE minimum standard requirements, develop and maintain manpower complement with funds for incentives for laboratory personnel, adopt Committee QA guidelines, accredit rabies diagnostic laboratories, ensure continuous availability of reagents and supplies, and conduct regular training on biosafety and proper disposal of specimens/carcasses (Rule 6A(1.1)(a) to (f)).
DA must ensure adequate supply of animal anti-rabies vaccines at all times (Rule 6A(2)).
DA must spearhead mass vaccination in high-risk depressed areas identified by the Committee (Rule 6A(3.1)).
Because rabies is notifiable, DA must issue a directive for compulsory reporting of dogs suspected of being rabid; require animal facility owners/operators to report incidents of animal rabies; ensure laboratory tests to confirm incidence; and direct thorough investigations of reported dog rabies cases (Rule 6A(4.1) to (4-4)).
DA, in collaboration with DOH, must establish and maintain rabies-free zones in accordance with OIE guidelines for declaration (Rule 6A(5.1)).
DA must immediately facilitate approval of the sale and use of veterinary and human barbiturate drugs and veterinary euthanasia drugs by DOH and PDEA (Rule 6A(6)).
DA must strengthen training of field personnel and IEC activities, conduct rabies research in coordination with other agencies, formulate minimum standards, monitor effective implementation, and encourage collaborative activities with DOH, DepEd, DILG, DENR, NGOs, POs, and other sectors (Rule 6A(7) to (10)).
DOH must ensure availability and adequate supply of DOH pre-qualified human anti-rabies vaccine in ABTCs at all times and coordinate with implementing agencies and concerned NGOs (Rule 6B(1)).
DOH must set criteria for human rabies vaccines and immunoglobulins, encourage LGUs to appropriate funds from Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) for rabies vaccines, and provide augmentation of vaccines to government ABTCs through the Center for Health Development (CHD) (Rule 6B(1.1) to (1.3)).
DOH must provide post-exposure treatment at minimum expense for individuals bitten by animals suspected of being rabid, consisting of initial vaccine and immunoglobin dose (Rule 6B(2)).
DOH must coordinate with LGUs to establish additional ABTCs in underserved areas and provide initial vaccines and immunoglobulins through ABTCs (Rule 6B(2.1) to (2.2)).
DOH must develop and regularly update guidelines for management of animal bite and human rabies cases based on WHO/CDC and other international and local references and updated local data (Rule 6B(2.3)).
DOH must conduct regular training and updates for ABTC staff, developing a quality assurance system including accreditation and monitoring of all government ABTCs and private rabies treatment centers (Rule 6B(2.4)).
DOH must provide pre-exposure treatment free to high-risk personnel working with rabies, including laboratory staff, veterinarians, animal handlers, vaccinators, and other persons working with rabies (Rule 6B(3)).
DOH must coordinate with DA to develop health education strategy for informing the public on rabies prevention/control and responsible pet ownership (Rule 6B(4)).
DOH must develop and maintain a human rabies surveillance system, directing LGU-CHO/MHO to submit monitoring reports of human rabies cases to CHD and requiring medical health facility owners/operators to report human rabies cases to DOH or CHD; DOH ensures thorough investigation of reported human rabies cases (Rule 6B(5.1) to (5.3)).
DOH must encourage collaborative activities with DA, DepEd, DILG, DENR, NGOs, and POs (Rule 6B(6)).
DOH must immediately approve registration of veterinary and human barbiturate drugs and veterinary euthanasia drugs in coordination with PDEA (Rule 6B(7)).
DepEd must strengthen rabies education through school health teaching/curriculum by including programs for rabies prevention/control and RPO in school activities and student councils/campus organizations in elementary and secondary levels (Rule 6C(1.1)).
DepEd must require schools to have special activities to increase awareness of RPO especially during Rabies Awareness Month in March and World Rabies Day on September 28 each year (Rule 6C(1.3)).
DepEd must assist dog mass immunization campaigns through information dissemination (Rule 6C(2.1)).
DepEd must integrate proper information and education on responsible pet ownership into relevant subjects and continuously develop and update learning packages and mobilize school health personnel to supplement classroom instruction; concepts must also be integrated into the Alternative Learning System (Rule 6C(4.1) to (4.3)).
LGUs must ensure proper immunization, registration, and issuance of a corresponding dog tag for every immunized and registered dog, register and vaccinate all dogs annually, adhere to Committee standard dog tagging system, and verify/require registration records in transporting dogs as proof of ownership (Rule 7(1.1) to (1.3)).
LGUs must strictly enforce dog impounding activities and field control to eliminate stray dogs, establish and maintain dog pounds as prescribed by the Committee, and may enter into agreements with private service providers for impounding facilities (Rule 7(2.1) to (2.2)).
LGUs must ensure dogs are leashed or confined within the owner’s house or fenced surroundings (Rule 7(3)).
LGUs must allocate funds to augment program implementation, particularly for supplies and human and dog vaccines needed for immunization (Rule 7(4)), and the Sangguniang must allocate funds for the LGU Rabies Control Program prepared by the Local Rabies Control Committee (Rule 7(4.1)).
The DILG must issue relevant orders and circulars to support Program implementation and monitor LGU compliance (Rule 7.1).

NGO assistance and local impounding disposition rules

Implementing agencies must seek NGO assistance and participation in community mobilization, rabies health education/information dissemination, mass anti-rabies campaigns, promotion during pet/animal shows, surveillance/reporting of rabies cases in animals and humans, and other rabies prevention and eradication activities (Section 8).
NGOs, POs, civic organizations, and academe must ensure their activities are consistent with and not in conflict with the Program (Rule 8(G)1).
Unregistered, stray, or unvaccinated dogs must be impounded and kept in LGU-designated dog pounds (Rule 9(1)).
Impounded dogs not claimed after three days from the dog pound must be placed for adoption to qualified persons with assistance of an animal welfare NGO when feasible, or otherwise disposed of in ways authorized under the Animal Welfare Act of 1998 (Republic Act No. 8485) (Rule 9(2)).
For animals impounded but not reclaimed within 72 hours, the animal is deemed abandoned and is disposed of by the LGU through adoption or euthanasia (Rule 9(2).1).
An impounded dog must be euthanized immediately if it is dangerous to retain, suffering from pain/discomfort, or diagnosed with a contagious and highly communicable disease to humans or animals (Rule 9(2).1(a) to (c)).
If an impounded dog is suspected with rabies, it must be isolated and observed, and upon death submitted for laboratory examination (Rule 9(2).2).
The pound operator must follow appropriate disposal methods for euthanized animals as prescribed by the Committee (Rule 9(2).3).
Owners must pay a fee to the LGU for impounded dogs pursuant to Section 7 (Rule 9(3)).
To defray pound operation expenses, the operator is authorized to charge fees from prospective foster owners upon adoption (Rule 9(3).1).

Dog population control and mandatory spay/neuter incentives

Authorities must control dog population and minimize unwanted stray dogs by undertaking an educational and promotional campaign on responsible pet ownership, including spaying or neutering options (Section 10(1)).
LGUs must provide an incentive system giving owners of dogs that have been spayed or neutered a subsidized/discounted pet registration fee (Section 10(2)).
Dogs impounded three times must be released only after being spayed or neutered, at the expense of the pet’s owner (Section 10(3)).

Local regulatory requirements and euthanasia restriction

LGUs must enforce Section 6 of Republic Act No. 8485 (Animal Welfare Act of 1998) (Rule 7(5)).
LGUs must enact additional local ordinances supporting the Program, including regulation of “tandok” (Rule 7(6)).
The Committee must formulate a model generic ordinance for adoption by LGUs, including provisions on registration and vaccination, Responsible Pet Ownership, regulation of “tandok,” control of strays, leashing and confinement, establishment and operation of animal control facility, dog and dog meat trading, movement and consumption, dog population control, IEC campaign, fund sourcing and generation, incentives and penalties, appointment of LGU veterinarian and establishment of veterinary office/facilities, and other relevant provisions (Rule 7(6).1(a) to (l)).
LGUs must prohibit the trade of dogs for meat and strictly enforce ordinances prohibiting the trading of dogs for meat (Rule 7(7)).
The “trade of dogs” includes buying and/or selling dogs, dog meats and carcasses, dog farming, collecting, and/or slaughtering of dogs for commercial consumption (Rule 7(7).2).
For cities and first class municipalities, LGUs must establish and maintain dog pounds for impounded dogs kept in accordance with Section 9, while other municipalities must either establish their own dog pounds or share expense with adjoining municipalities or private animal shelters and control facilities (Rule 7(8)).
Dog pounds must be established under standards/guidelines set by the Committee and must be registered with DA-BAI’s Animal Welfare Division within the initial year of Program implementation (Rule 7(8).1).
LGUs must prohibit the use of electrocution as a euthanasia procedure (Rule 7(9)).
Impounded dogs not redeemed/adopted or beyond the allowable pound stay period must be euthanized by a method allowed under Administrative Order (AO) 21-B series of 1999, and euthanasia by electrocution must never be performed (Rule 7(9).1).
LGUs must appoint a veterinarian and establish a veterinary office in every province, city, and first class municipality, while other municipalities may share expenses for veterinary offices (Rule 7(10)).
LGUs must require pet shops to post information regarding rabies and responsible pet ownership (Rule 7(11)).
For administrative feasibility and subject to paragraph 8 of this Section, LGUs must collect the fines imposed under Section 11 subparagraphs (1), (3), (4), (5), and (6), and all fines collected must be used for enhancement of the National Rabies Prevention and Control Program within the locality and achievement of the Act’s objectives (Rule 7(12); Rule 7(12) second paragraph).

Penalties for violations

Pet owners who fail or refuse to have their dogs registered and immunized against rabies are fined PHP 2,000.00 (Section 11(1)).
Pet owners who refuse to have their dogs vaccinated against rabies must pay for vaccination of both the dog and the individuals bitten by their dog (Section 11(2)).
Pet owners who refuse to have their dog put under observation after biting an individual must pay a fine of PHP 10,000.00 (Section 11(3)).
Pet owners who refuse to have their dog put under observation