THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
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Third Regular Session 
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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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S E N A T E  
S. No. %54 1 
(In substitution of Senate Bill Nos. 631 and 1899, taking into consideration HBN 4654) 
Prepared jointly by the Committees on Health and Demography and on Finance with 
Senators Villar, Flavier, Cayetano and Drilon as authors 
"AN ACT 
PROVIDING FOR THE CONTROL AND ELIMINATION OF RABIES, 
PRESCRIBING 
PENALTIES 
FOR 
VIOLATION 
THEREOF 
AND 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
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SEC. 1. Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Anti-Rabies Act of 2006". 
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SEC. 2. Declaration of fo/icy. - 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 Rabies shall be provided 
and the need for responsible Dog 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 Dog seizes, cuts or grips with its teeth 
so that the skin of a person has been wounded, pierced or scratched. 
b. Concerned Officials refers to barangay officials, health workers, police 
officers or government veterinarians. 
order carnivora (male or female), scientifically known as canis familiaris. 
c. Dog refers to a common quadruped domestic animal belonging to the 
d. Euthanasia Drug refers to a drug used for humane killing of Dogs. 
e. lmpound refers to seize and hold in the custody of the law. 
f. Owner refers to any person keeping, harboring or having charge, care or 
control of a Dog including hidher representative. 
g. Pound refers to a public enclosure for stray animals. 


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h. Public Place refers to any place open to the public like parks, malls, 
i. Rabies refers to a fatal disease caused by a lyssa virus, transmitted 
mainly through the bite of an infected animal and is characterized by muscle 
paralysis, hydrophobia and aerophobia, and others. 
markets, streets, etc. 
j. Rabies Vaccination refers to the inoculation of a Dog with a Rabies 
vaccine by a licensed government or private veterinarian or trained individual 
under the direct supervision of a licensed veterinarian. The services of the said 
trained individual shall be limited only to Rabies Vaccination injection in Dogs 
and only during government mass vaccination campaigns. 
k. Stray Dog refers to any Dog leaving its Owner’s place or premise and no 
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Veterinary Neuroleptic Drugs refer to drugs that depress the function of 
longer under the effective control of the Owner. 
the nervous system e.g. anesthetic, tranquilizer, sedative. 
SEC. 4. National Rabies Prevention and Control Program. - It is hereby 
mandated that there shall be a National Rabies Prevention and Control Program. The 
program shall be a multi-agency effort in controlling and eliminating Rabies in the 
country. Among its component activities include mass vaccination of Dogs, Impounding 
of Stray Dogs, conduct of information and education campaign on the prevention and 
control of Rabies, provision on pre-exposure treatment to high risk personnel and post 
exposure treatment to animal bite victims as well as the encouragement of the practice 
of responsible Dog ownership. The program shall be implemented by the Department of 
Agriculture (DA), Department of Health (DOH), Department of Interior and Local 
Government (DILG) and Department of Education (DepEd), as well as Local 
Government Units (LGUs) with the assistance of Non-Governmental Organizations 
(NGOs). 
SEC. 5 .  Responsibilifies of Dog Owners. - All Dog Owners shall be required 
to: 
a. Have their Dog vaccinated against Rabies at three months old and every 
year thereafter and maintain a registration card which shall contain all 
vaccinations conducted on their Dog, for accurate record purposes. 
b. Submit their Dog for mandatory registration. 
c. Maintain control over their Dog and not allow it to roam the streets or any 
d. Be a responsible Owner by providing their Dog with proper grooming, 
Public Place without a leash. 
adequate food and clean shelter. 
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e. Within twenty-four (24) hours, report immediately any Dog biting incident 
to the Concerned Officials for investigation or any appropriate action and place 
such Dog under observation or control by the LGU where the Dog Owner 
resides. 
f. Assist the Dog bite victim immediately and shoulder the medical expenses 
incurred and other incidental expenses relative to the victim’s injuries. 
SEC. 6. Responsibilities of Government Agencies. - The following 
government agencies, which shall jointly implement the National Rabies Prevention and 
Control Program, shall be tasked to: 
A. Department of Agriculture 
1. Improve and upgrade existing animal Rabies laboratory diagnostic 
2. Ensure the availability and adequate supply of animal anti-Rabies vaccine 
3. Undertake free anti-Rabies Vaccination of Dogs. 
4. Maintain and improve animal Rabies surveillance system. 
5. Establish and maintain Rabies free zone in coordination with the LGUs. 
6. Facilitate for the approval of the use of Veterinary Neuroleptic and 
Euthanasia Drugs by the DOH and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency 
(PDEA). 
7. Strengthen the training of field personnel and the information education 
and communication (IEC) activities on Rabies prevention and control and 
responsible Dog ownership. 
8. Conduct research on Rabies and its control in coordination with other 
agencies. 
9. Encourage collaborative activities with the DOH, DepEd, DILG, NGOs and 
other concerned sectors. 
capabilities to ensure better services to the people. 
at all times. 
B. Department of Health 
1. Ensure the availability and adequate supply of human anti-Rabies vaccine 
in animal bite treatment centers at ail times and shall coordinate with other 
implementing agencies and concerned NGOs for this purpose. 
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must: 
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2. Provide post-exposure treatment at the minimum expense to individuals 
Bitten by animals suspected of being rabid which will consist of the initial vaccine 
and immunoglobulin dose. 
3. Provide pre-exposure treatment to high-risk personnel, e.g. laboratory 
staff, veterinarians, animal handlers, vaccinators and other persons working with 
Rabies virus for free. 
4. Coordinate with the DA in the development of appropriate health 
education strategy to inform the public on Rabies prevention and control and 
responsible Dog ownership. 
5. Develop and maintain a surveillance system. 
6. Encourage collaborative activities with the DA, DepEd, DILG, NGOs and 
7. Approve the registration of Veterinary Neuroleptic and Euthanasia Drugs 
other concerned sectors. 
in coordination with the PDEA. 
C. Department of Education 
1. Strengthen 
Rabies 
education 
program 
through 
school 
health 
2. Assist in the Dog mass immunization campaigns in the community. 
3. Encourage collaborative activities with the DA, DOH, DILG, NGOs and 
4. Integrate proper information and education on responsible Dog ownership 
teaching/curriculum; 
other concerned sectors. 
in the relevant subjects in the Elementary and High School levels. 
SEC. 7. Responsibilities of the LGUs. - LGUs, in their respective localities, 
1. Vaccinate Dogs routinely to cover the whole Dog population. 
2. Strictly enforce Dog Impounding activities and field control to eliminate 
3. Ensure that Dogs are leashed or confined within the premises of the 
4. Ensure that all Dogs are properly immunized and registered. 
5. Allocate funds to augment the implementation of the National Rabies 
Prevention and Control Program, particularly on the financing of supplies and 
vaccines needed for immunization. 
Stray Dogs. 
Owner's house or Owner's fenced surroundings. 
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6. Ensure the enforcement of Section 6 of Republic Act No. 8485 or “The 
7. Enact additional local ordinances that will support the National Rabies 
Prevention and Control Program that should include the regulation of treatment 
locally known as “tandok.” 
Animal Welfare Act of 1998. 
8. Prohibit the slaughter and trade of Dogs for meat. 
9. With respect to cities and first class municipalities, establish and maintain 
a Dog Pound where Impounded Dogs shall be kept, in accordance with Section 9 
herein, Provided, that the other municipalities, may, on their own, establish a Dog 
Pound or opt to share the expense of establishing and maintaining a Dog Pound 
with other adjoining municipalities. 
I O .  For purposes of ensuring the administrative feasibility of implementing the 
provisions of this Act, and subject to paragraph 7 of this Section, the barangay 
shall collect the fines imposed under Section 11 hereof. 
Any and all fines collected pursuant to this Act shall be used for the 
enhancement of the National Rabies Prevention and Control Program within the 
locality concerned, as well as the achievement of the objectives envisioned in 
this Act. 
The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) shall ensure 
compliance of these responsibilities by the LGUs. 
SEC. 8. Assistance of NGOs and the Academe. - The agencies tasked to 
implement the anti-Rabies program shall seek the assistance and participation of NGOs 
in any of the following activities: 
I. Community mobilization. 
2. Health education /information dissemination on Rabies and responsible 
Dog ownership. 
3. Mass anti-Rabies campaign. 
4. Surveillanceheporting of Rabies cases in animals and humans. 
5. Any other activities geared towards the prevention and complete 
eradication of Rabies. 
SEC. 9. Impounding, Field Control and Disposition of Unregistered, Stray 
and Unvaccinated Dogs. - Unregistered, Stray or unvaccinated Dogs shall be put in 
Dog Pounds and disposed of, taking into consideration the following guidelines: 
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1. Unregistered, Stray or unvaccinated Dogs shall be Impounded and kept in 
the LGU’s designated Dog Pound. 
2. Impounded Dogs not claimed after three days from the Dog Pound shall 
be placed for adoption to qualified persons, with the assistance of an animal 
welfare NGO, when feasible, or othetwise disposed of in any manner authorized, 
subject to the pertinent provisions of Republic Act No. 8485, othetwise known as 
the “Animal Welfare Act of 1998.” 
3. A fee shall be paid by Owners of Impounded Dogs to the LGU concerned, 
pursuant to Section 7 hereof. 
SEC. I O .  Dog Population Control. - In furtherance of the policy of this Act to 
eradicate Rabies, there is the need to control the Dog population and minimize the 
number of unwanted Stray Dogs. As such, it is hereby mandated: 
1. That the DA, DOH, DILG, DepEd, LGUs, with the assistance of NGOs, 
shall undertake an educational and promotional campaign on responsible Dog 
Ownership, including the option of spaying or neutering their Dogs. 
2. That the LGUs shall provide an incentive system whereby Owners of Dogs 
which have been spayed or neutered will be given a subsidized or discounted pet 
registration fee. 
3. That Dogs which have been Impounded three times shall only be released 
after having been spayed or neutered, at the expense of the Dogs’ Owner. 
SEC.ll. Penalties. - 
1. Dog Owners who fail or refuse to have their Dog registered and 
immunized against Rabies shall be punished by a fine of Two Thousand Pesos 
2. Dog Owners who refuse to have their Dog vaccinated against Rabies 
shall be liable to pay for the vaccination of both the Dog and the individuals Bitten 
by their Dog. 
3. Dog Owners who refuse to have their Dog put under observation after said 
Dog has Bitten an individual shall be meted a fine of Ten Thousand Pesos 
4. Dog Owners who refuse to have their Dog put under observation and do 
not shoulder the medical expenses of the person Bitten by their Dog shall be 
meted a fine of Twenty-Five Thousand Pesos (P25,OOO.OO). 
(P2,000.00). 
(P10,000.00). 
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5. Dog Owners who refuse to put leash on their Dogs when they are brought 
outside the house shall be meted a fine of Five Hundred Pesos (P500.00) for 
each incident. 
6. An Impounded Dog shall be released to its Owner upon payment of a fine 
of not less than Five Hundred Pesos (P500.00) but not more than One Thousand 
Pesos (PI ,000). 
SEC. 12. lmplementing Rules and Regulations. - The DA, in coordination with 
the DOH, DILG, DepEd, and NGOs shall issue the necessary rules and regulations for 
the effective implementation of this Act. 
SEC. 13. Appropriations. - The amount of One Hundred Million Pesos 
(PlOO,OOO,OOO.OO) necessary to implement the provisions of this Act shall be initially 
charged against the appropriations of the DOH, DA, DILG and DepEd under the 
General Appropriations Act. For the LGUs, the requirements sha'll be taken from their 
Internal Revenue Allotment and other local funds. Thereafter, such sums as may be 
necessary for its continued implementation shall be included in the annual General 
Appropriations Acts. 
SEC. 14. Separability Clause. - In case any provision of this Act is declared 
unconstitutional, the other provisions shall remain in full force and effect. 
SEC. 15. Hfecfivify. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general 
circulation, whichever comes earlier. 
Approved, 
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