Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____ 
Introduced by HON. MIGUEL LUIS R. VILLAFUERTE 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Article II, Section 15 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution provides for the mandate of 
the State to “protect and promote the right to health of the people and instill health 
consciousness among them.” Moreover, Article II, Section 16 affirms that the State shall 
“protect and advance the right of the people to a balanced and healthful ecology.” 
Rabies, a viral disease that affects the nervous system remains a significant public 
health issue in the Philippines. According to the DOH and WHO, over 200 Filipinos die 
annually from rabies, mostly from dog bites. Likewise, a study noted that there has been an 
increase in reported cases in 2022 and 2023 to more than 350 per year.1 Rabies is fatal but 
preventable with proper wound care and timely vaccination. 
Republic Act No. 9482 or the “Anti-Rabies Act of 2007” laid down the foundation for 
rabies control through animal vaccination, pet registration, and bite incident reporting. 
However, it does not require all public health centers to provide free human anti-rabies 
vaccination, creating unequal access to life-saving treatment, especially in remote or high-risk 
communities. 
This bill seeks to fill that gap by mandating the availability of free anti-rabies post-
exposure (PEP) and pre-exposure (PrEP) prophylaxis in all barangay and municipal health 
centers nationwide. It also includes a provision on community-based awareness campaigns, 
which are vital to educating the public about rabies prevention, early response to animal bites, 
and the availability of free vaccination services. 
By institutionalizing universal access to anti-rabies prophylaxis, this measure 
reinforces the government’s broader commitment to universal healthcare, preventive 
medicine, and equitable access to essential health services for all Filipinos. 
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this measure is earnestly sought. 
HON. MIGUEL LUIS R. VILLAFUERTE 
1 Martinez, M. R., et al. (2024). The high burden of human rabies in the Philippines and the urgent need for improved 
prevention and control. The Lancet Regional Health–Western Pacific. 
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanwpc/article/PIIS2666-6065(24)00150-0/fulltext 
July 9, 2025
5:45 pm
1696


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____ 
Introduced by HON. MIGUEL LUIS R. VILLAFUERTE 
AN ACT MANDATING THE PROVISION OF FREE ANTI-RABIES VACCINATIONS IN ALL 
PUBLIC HEALTH CENTERS NATIONWIDE AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the "Free Anti-Rabies Vaccination in 
Community Health Center Act." 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. – It is the policy of the State, per Article II, Section 15 of 
the 1987 Philippine Constitution, to “protect and promote the right to health of the people and 
instill health consciousness among them.” Furthermore, under Article II, Section 16, the State 
shall “protect and advance the right of the people to a balanced and healthful ecology in accord 
with the rhythm and harmony of nature.” 
In line with this policy, the State shall ensure equitable access to life-saving anti-rabies 
vaccines through all public health centers, prioritizing vulnerable populations and underserved 
communities to prevent avoidable deaths and enhance public health responsiveness. 
SECTION 3. Free Anti-Rabies Vaccination Program. – All barangay and municipal health 
centers shall be mandated to maintain a regular and adequate supply of anti-rabies vaccines 
and provide free post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) to all qualified patients immediately after 
an animal bite, and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for high-risk individuals, in accordance 
with DOH guidelines. 
SECTION 4. Program Implementation and Reporting. – The DOH shall lead the 
implementation of the national free anti-rabies vaccination program. It shall coordinate with 
the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), local government units (LGUs), and 
other concerned agencies to ensure the availability, timely distribution, and administration of 
vaccines. The DOH shall establish a national rabies vaccination database to monitor the 
distribution and uptake of vaccines and shall submit an annual report to Congress on the 
program's coverage, supply chain performance, and outcomes. 
SECTION 5. Public Information and Community Awareness. – The DOH, in partnership 
with LGUs, shall conduct regular information campaigns to raise awareness on rabies 
prevention, proper response to animal bites, and the availability of free vaccination services. 
SECTION 6. Appropriations. – The amount necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act 
shall be charged against the current budget of the DOH. Thereafter, such sums as may be 
1696


  
necessary for the continuous implementation shall be included in the annual General 
Appropriations Act (GAA). 
 
SECTION 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – Within sixty (60) days from the 
effectivity of this Act, the DOH, in consultation with the DILG, LGUs, and relevant stakeholders 
shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations to effectively carry out the intent of this 
Act. 
 
SECTION 8. Repealing Clause. – All laws, decrees, orders, rules, and regulations or parts 
thereof inconsistent with any provision of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
 
SECTION 9. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in 
the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
 
 
Approved,