Republic of the Philippines
Congress of the Philippines
Metro ManilaThirteenth Congress
Third Special SessionBegun and held in Metro Manila, on Monday, the nineteenth day of February, two thousand seven.
Republic Act No. 9482 May 25, 2007
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 the 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...
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Republic Acts
AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE CONTROL AND ELIMINATION OF HUMAN AND ANIMAL RABIES
Republic Act No. 9482
Summary of the Anti-Rabies Act of 2007 (Republic Act No. 9482)
Declaration of Policy (Section 2)
- The State shall protect and promote the right to health of the people by providing a system for the control, prevention of spread, and eventual eradication of human and animal rabies, and establishing responsible pet ownership.
Definition of Terms (Section 3)
- Defines key terms used in the Act, such as "bitten," "concerned officials," "direct supervision," "dog," "euthanasia," "impound," "owner," "pound," "public place," "rabies," "rabies transmission," "rabies vaccination/immunoprophylaxis of humans," "rabies vaccination of dogs," "post-exposure treatment (P.E.T)," "pre-exposure prophylaxis (P.E.P.)," "stray dog," and "veterinary or human barbiturates."
National Rabies Prevention and Control Program (Section 4)
- Mandates 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 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, (5) provision of 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 5-14 in high-risk areas, and (7) encouragement 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), Department of Education (DepEd), 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).
Responsibilities of Pet Owners (Section 5)
- Pet owners shall: (1) have their dogs regularly vaccinated against rabies and maintain a registration card, (2) submit their dogs for mandatory registration, (3) maintain control over their dogs and not allow them to roam without a leash, (4) be responsible owners by providing proper grooming, food and shelter, (5) report any dog biting incident within 24 hours to concerned officials and place the dog under observation, and (6) assist the dog bite victim immediately and shoulder the medical expenses.
Responsibilities of Government Agencies (Section 6)
- Outlines the responsibilities of the Department of Agriculture, Department of Health, and Department of Education in implementing the National Rabies Prevention and Control Program.
Responsibilities of Local Government Units (LGUs) (Section 7)
- LGUs shall: (1) ensure all dogs are properly immunized, registered and issued a dog tag, (2) strictly enforce dog impounding activities and field control to eliminate stray dogs, (3) ensure dogs are leashed or confined within the owner's premises, (4) allocate funds to augment the implementation of the program, (5) enforce the Animal Welfare Act of 1998, (6) enact local ordinances to support the program, (7) prohibit the trade of dogs for meat, (8) establish and maintain dog pounds, (9) prohibit the use of electrocution as a euthanasia procedure, (10) appoint a veterinarian and establish a veterinary office, (11) require pet shops to post information on rabies and responsible pet ownership, and (12) collect fines imposed under the Act and use them for the enhancement of the program.
Assistance of NGOs and the Academe (Section 8)
- The implementing agencies shall seek the assistance and participation of NGOs in activities such as community mobilization, health education, mass anti-rabies campaigns, promotion during pet shows, surveillance/reporting of rabies cases, and other activities aimed at preventing and eradicating rabies.
Impounding, Field Control and Disposition of Unregistered, Stray and Unvaccinated Dogs (Section 9)
- Unregistered, stray or unvaccinated dogs shall be impounded and kept in the LGU's designated dog pound.
- Impounded dogs not claimed after three days shall be placed for adoption or disposed of in a manner authorized by the Animal Welfare Act of 1998.
- A fee shall be paid by owners of impounded dogs to the LGU.
Dog Population Control (Section 10)
- 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 dogs.
- LGUs shall provide an incentive system for owners of spayed or neutered dogs by giving a subsidized or discounted pet registration fee.
- Dogs impounded three times shall only be released after being spayed or neutered, at the expense of the pet owner.
Penalties (Section 11)
- Outlines penalties for various violations, such as failure to register and immunize dogs (₱2,000 fine), refusal to have dogs vaccinated (liable for vaccination costs), refusal to have dogs put under observation after biting (₱10,000 fine), refusal to shoulder medical expenses of bite victims (₱25,000 fine), refusal to leash dogs (₱500 fine per incident), impounded dog release fee (₱500-₱1,000), trading dogs for meat (₱5,000 fine per dog and 1-4 years imprisonment), and using electrocution as a euthanasia method (₱5,000 fine per act and 1-4 years imprisonment).
Implementing Rules and Regulations (Section 12)
- The DA, in coordination with the DOH, DILG, DepEd, DENR, NGOs and POs, shall issue the necessary rules and regulations within 60 days from the effectivity of the Act.
Appropriations (Section 13)
- An initial amount of ₱100,000,000 shall be charged against the appropriations of the DOH, DA, DILG and DepEd under the General Appropriations Act.
- For LGUs, the requirements shall be taken from their Internal Revenue Allotment and other local funds.
- Thereafter, necessary sums shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.
Separability Clause (Section 14)
- If any provision of the Act is declared unconstitutional, the other provisions shall remain in full force and effect.
Effectivity (Section 15)
- The Act shall take effect 15 days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two newspapers of general circulation, whichever comes earlier.
Declaration of Policy (Section 2)
- The State shall protect and promote the right to health of the people by providing a system for the control, prevention of spread, and eventual eradication of human and animal rabies, and establishing responsible pet ownership.
Definition of Terms (Section 3)
- Defines key terms used in the Act, such as "bitten," "concerned officials," "direct supervision," "dog," "euthanasia," "impound," "owner," "pound," "public place," "rabies," "rabies transmission," "rabies vaccination/immunoprophylaxis of humans," "rabies vaccination of dogs," "post-exposure treatment (P.E.T)," "pre-exposure prophylaxis (P.E.P.)," "stray dog," and "veterinary or human barbiturates."
National Rabies Prevention and Control Program (Section 4)
- Mandates 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 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, (5) provision of 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 5-14 in high-risk areas, and (7) encouragement 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), Department of Education (DepEd), 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).
Responsibilities of Pet Owners (Section 5)
- Pet owners shall: (1) have their dogs regularly vaccinated against rabies and maintain a registration card, (2) submit their dogs for mandatory registration, (3) maintain control over their dogs and not allow them to roam without a leash, (4) be responsible owners by providing proper grooming, food and shelter, (5) report any dog biting incident within 24 hours to concerned officials and place the dog under observation, and (6) assist the dog bite victim immediately and shoulder the medical expenses.
Responsibilities of Government Agencies (Section 6)
- Outlines the responsibilities of the Department of Agriculture, Department of Health, and Department of Education in implementing the National Rabies Prevention and Control Program.
Responsibilities of Local Government Units (LGUs) (Section 7)
- LGUs shall: (1) ensure all dogs are properly immunized, registered and issued a dog tag, (2) strictly enforce dog impounding activities and field control to eliminate stray dogs, (3) ensure dogs are leashed or confined within the owner's premises, (4) allocate funds to augment the implementation of the program, (5) enforce the Animal Welfare Act of 1998, (6) enact local ordinances to support the program, (7) prohibit the trade of dogs for meat, (8) establish and maintain dog pounds, (9) prohibit the use of electrocution as a euthanasia procedure, (10) appoint a veterinarian and establish a veterinary office, (11) require pet shops to post information on rabies and responsible pet ownership, and (12) collect fines imposed under the Act and use them for the enhancement of the program.
Assistance of NGOs and the Academe (Section 8)
- The implementing agencies shall seek the assistance and participation of NGOs in activities such as community mobilization, health education, mass anti-rabies campaigns, promotion during pet shows, surveillance/reporting of rabies cases, and other activities aimed at preventing and eradicating rabies.
Impounding, Field Control and Disposition of Unregistered, Stray and Unvaccinated Dogs (Section 9)
- Unregistered, stray or unvaccinated dogs shall be impounded and kept in the LGU's designated dog pound.
- Impounded dogs not claimed after three days shall be placed for adoption or disposed of in a manner authorized by the Animal Welfare Act of 1998.
- A fee shall be paid by owners of impounded dogs to the LGU.
Dog Population Control (Section 10)
- 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 dogs.
- LGUs shall provide an incentive system for owners of spayed or neutered dogs by giving a subsidized or discounted pet registration fee.
- Dogs impounded three times shall only be released after being spayed or neutered, at the expense of the pet owner.
Penalties (Section 11)
- Outlines penalties for various violations, such as failure to register and immunize dogs (₱2,000 fine), refusal to have dogs vaccinated (liable for vaccination costs), refusal to have dogs put under observation after biting (₱10,000 fine), refusal to shoulder medical expenses of bite victims (₱25,000 fine), refusal to leash dogs (₱500 fine per incident), impounded dog release fee (₱500-₱1,000), trading dogs for meat (₱5,000 fine per dog and 1-4 years imprisonment), and using electrocution as a euthanasia method (₱5,000 fine per act and 1-4 years imprisonment).
Implementing Rules and Regulations (Section 12)
- The DA, in coordination with the DOH, DILG, DepEd, DENR, NGOs and POs, shall issue the necessary rules and regulations within 60 days from the effectivity of the Act.
Appropriations (Section 13)
- An initial amount of ₱100,000,000 shall be charged against the appropriations of the DOH, DA, DILG and DepEd under the General Appropriations Act.
- For LGUs, the requirements shall be taken from their Internal Revenue Allotment and other local funds.
- Thereafter, necessary sums shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.
Separability Clause (Section 14)
- If any provision of the Act is declared unconstitutional, the other provisions shall remain in full force and effect.
Effectivity (Section 15)
- The Act shall take effect 15 days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two newspapers of general circulation, whichever comes earlier.