Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

USE BILLNO. 7520

Introduced by REP. EMILIO BERNARDINO L. YULO.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill secks to establish an Anti-Rabies Center in each congressional district in the
country. The Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) reported that rabies is still one of
the most prevalent threats to public health in the Philippines. According to the Department of
Health (DOH) an average of 200 to 300 individuals die yearly said that in the Philippines

because of rabies, a viral disease that attacks the central nervous system.!

Similarly, new research suggests that the Philippines’ inadequate measures to control
rabies led to its failure to reduce the incidence of the deadly viral disease transmitted mainly
through the bite of dogs and other animals.

Republic Act No. 9482 was enacted in 2007 with the aim to control and eliminate human
and animal rabies by 2020. However, studies highlight the fact that the incidence of rabies in the
Philippines has plateaued. Hence, an additional measure to strengthen current
public health programs to reduce and finally eradicate this fatal disease need to be supplemented
to the current efforts,

In that regard, this bill seeks to establish an Anti-Rabies Center in cach congressional
district in the country to reduce the public’s risk and deaths caused by rabies and the considerable
financial burden that it incurs, provide efficient and accessible faci
achieve good rabies control.

fies for each district, and

"ingienet, With over 200 average deaths year, PH Gr ffm —mbicnfce stats, September 27, 2022, accessible at
‘py newinfonqirer 187 144Oth over 200 average death year fr froma raat
'Seibevnc, Pippin ling con", Aups 15, 2022, cele at hp uw scence pacfichews phillies lingo conor


In view of the foregoing, the immediate approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

if,

BERNARDINO L. YULO

REP. EMIL|


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
‘Quezon City

NI

‘TEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

“nouse Biti.no. 7520

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 2023”.

SEC. 2. Declaration of Principles. 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 cach
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; and

°) 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.

4) 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 concemed 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. 8. Implementing Rules and Regulations. The DOH, in coordination with
the respective LGUs of the districts, DILG, and other concerned agencies, shall
formulate, identify, and promulgate the implementing guidelines, rules and regulations
necessary to carry out the purposes of this 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,