Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 3191
Introduced by REP. EMILIO BERNARDINO L. YULO
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Rabies continues to pose a serious threat to public health and safety in the Philippines. It
is a fatal but preventable viral disease that affects the central nervous system and is commonly
transmitted through the bite of infected animals, particularly dogs. Despite being vaccine-
preventable, rabies remains a major health concern due to gaps in access to timely medical
intervention and inadequate control measures at the community level.
According to the Department of Health (DOH), the Philippines records around 200 to 300
rabies-related deaths annually. The World Health Organization (WHO) further emphasizes that
most of these cases are entirely preventable through early post-exposure prophylaxis and
comprehensive dog vaccination programs. Unfortunately, many areas across the country,
especially those in rural and underserved regions, continue to suffer from limited access to rabies
vaccines, poor awareness, and insufficient facilities.
While Republic Act No. 9482, otherwise known as the “Anti-Rabies Act of 2007,” was
enacted to eliminate human and animal rabies by 2020, recent findings suggest that the incidence
rate of rabies has not significantly declined.
This bill therefore proposes the creation of an Anti-Rabies Center in every congressional
district in the Philippines. These centers will serve as dedicated facilities for rabies education,
pre- and post-exposure treatment, surveillance, and animal bite management. The goal is to
ensure that every district has the capacity to prevent, respond to, and eventually eradicate rabies-
related cases.
August 6, 2025
11:41 am


By making these services more accessible and systematic at the district level, this
measure will not only reduce the number of fatalities but will also alleviate the financial and
emotional burden on families affected by rabies. It is a step toward achieving comprehensive and
equitable public health protection for all Filipinos.
In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly sought.
REP. EMILIO BERNARDINO L. YULO


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 3191
Introduced by REP. EMILIO BERNARDINO L. YULO
AN ACT ESTABLISHING AN ANTI-RABIES CENTER IN EACH CONGRESSIONAL
DISTRICT NATIONWIDE AND PROVIDING FUNDS THEREOF
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled:
SECTION 1. Short Title. This Act shall be known as the "Anti-Rabies Center Act of
2025".
SEC. 2. Declaration of State Policy. It shall be the policy of the State to uphold the
constitutional right of the people for the protection of their life and property and the promotion of
the general welfare. Towards this end, the State shall establish and maintain fully equipped and
operational Anti-Rabies Centers, responsive to the immediate needs of the locality where it is
situated. It shall ensure that quality health services and treatments are available and accessible to
them.
SEC. 3. Establishment There is hereby established Anti-Rabies Centers in each
Congressional District in the country in a highly accessible area, under the supervision of the
Department of Health (DOH) and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), in
collaboration with the other concerned agencies, if necessary.
SEC. 4. Anti-Rabies Centers. There shall be established an anti-rabies center in each
Congressional District in the country which shall provide urgent treatment for anti-rabies,
administer relevant vaccines, and initiate comprehensive medication to mitigate human rabies
deaths.


Existing structures that would meet the minimum requirements or could be upgraded to
effectively serve as anti-rabies centers could be designated as such in compliance with the Local
Government Unit (LGU) where the Center in each Congressional District is situated.
SEC. 5. Purposes and Objectives. The Anti-Rabies Centers shall have the following
purposes and objectives:
a) To establish, maintain, and operate such health institution that shall provide a system
of treatment for those infected with rabies and sufficient anti-rabies vaccine shots;
b) To provide education and training of health and technical personnel in the practice
and scientific implementation of the services;
c) To coordinate the various efforts and activities of other government agencies and
LGUs for the purpose of achieving an integrated approach to mitigating rabies deaths;
and
d) To strengthen public awareness through information education and communication
campaigns against rabies.
SEC. 6. Location of the Anti-Rabies Centers. The provincial office of DILG, in
coordination with the DOH, shall determine the location of each district's Anti-Rabies Centers
taking into consideration the accessibility of these facilities to the most number of human rabies
deaths in the locality.
SEC. 7. Operation and Management. The LGUs concerned shall be primarily
responsible for the operation, supervision, and management of Anti-Rabies Centers established
under this Act. They are also empowered to issue rules and regulations on their proper use and
maintenance.
SEC. 8. Appropriations. The Secretary of Health shall include in the Department's
program the establishment and operationalization of the Anti-Rabies Centers in each respective


Congressional districts, the funding of which shall be included in the budget of the DOH under
the annual General Appropriations Act.
SEC. 9. Separability Clause. In the event that any provision of this Act is declared
unconstitutional, the validity of the other provisions shall not be affected by such declaration.
SEC. 10. Repealing Clause. All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations, or portions
thereof, inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
SEC. 11. Effectivity Clause. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation or the Official Gazette.
Approved,