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2 Draft Proposed ordinance introduced by:

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6 RABIES PREVENTION AND CONTROL ORDINANCE OF THE
7 PROVINCE OF NORTHERN SAMAR, AND FOR OTHER
8 PURPOSES
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10 WHEREAS, animal bites, especially dogs and cats bites, are common and
11 serious problems. This can result in psychological trauma, transmission of disease
12 including rabies, localized infection of the bite wound, permanent disfigurement
13 and even death;
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15 WHEREAS, improper and irresponsible care and protection of domesticated
16 animals pose grave threats to the safety and security of our communities, in
17 general, and in residents, in particular;
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19 WHEREAS, the ever increasing cases of dog biting greatly affect public
20 health and safety;
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22 WHEREAS, Section 16 of the Local Government Code of 1991 provides:
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24 “every local government unit shall exercise the powers expressly
25 granted, those necessarily implied therefrom, as well as powers
26 necessary, appropriate, or incidental to the promotion of the
27 general welfare. Within their respective territorial jurisdictions,
28 local government units shall ensure and support, among other
29 things, the preservation and enrichment of culture, promote
30 health and safety, enhance the right of the people to a balanced
31 ecology, encourage and support the development of appropriate
32 and self-reliant scientific and technological capabilities, improve
33 public morals, enhance economic prosperity and social justice,
34 promote full employment among their residents, maintain peace
35 and order, and preserve the comfort and convenience of the
36 inhabitants.”
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38 WHEREAS, Republic Act No. 9482 also provides that “local government
39 unit should enact ordinances that will support National Rabies Prevention and
40 Control Program x x x”;
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42 WHEREFORE, in view of the foregoing consideration –
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44 BE IT ORDAINED by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan in session assembled:
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46 Section 1. TITLE – This Ordinance shall be known as the Anti-Rabies
47 Ordinance of 2009 of the Province.
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49 Sec. 2. DECLARATION OF POLICY – It is the declared policy of the
50 Province of Northern Samar to protect and promote the right to health of the
51 people.
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52 Toward this end, a system for the control, prevention of the spread, and
53 eventual eradication of human and animal rabies shall be provided and the need for
54 responsible pet ownership established.
55 Sec. 3. DEFINITION OF TERMS – For the purpose of this Ordinance, the
56 following terms shall mean:
57 Bitten – refers to an act which a dog seizes, cuts or grips with its teeth
58 so that the skin of a person has been wounded, pierced or scratched.
59 Concerned official refers to barangay officials, health workers, police
60 officers or government veterinarians.
61 Dog shall apply to a specific domestic animal (canis familiars) male
62 or female.
63 Owner shall mean any person keeping, harboring or having charge or
64 control of or permitting any dog to habitually be or remain or, or be
65 lodged or fed within such person’s house, yard or premises.
66 Post Exposure Treatment (P.E.T.) refers to an anti-rabies treatment
67 administered after an exposure to rabies, which include local wound
68 care, rabies vaccine, with or without anti-rabies immunizing agent.
69 Public Place – refers to any place open to the public like parks, malls,
70 markets, streets, etc.
71 Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (P.E.P.) refers vaccination administered
72 before an exposure to rabies to those who are at high risk of getting
73 rabies.
74 Rabies refers to a highly fatal disease caused by a lyssa virus,
75 transmitted mainly through the bite of an infected animal and is
76 characterized by muscle paralysis, hydrophobia and aerophobia, and
77 other neurological manifestations.
78 Sec. 4. RESPONSIBILITIES OF PET OWNER – All Pet Owners shall be
79 required to:
80 1. Have their dog or cats regularly vaccinated against rabies and maintain a
81 registration card which shall contain all vaccinations conducted on their
82 dog/cat, for accurate record purposes.
83 2. Submit their dogs/cats for mandatory registration.
84 3. Maintain control over their dog and not allow it to roam the streets or any
85 public place without a leash.
86 4. Be a responsible owner by providing their dog with proper grooming,
87 adequate food and clean shelter.
88 5. Within twenty-four (24) hours, report immediately any dog/cat biting
89 incident to the concerned officials for investigation or for any appropriate
90 action and place such dog/cat under observation by a government or
91 private veterinarian.
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92 6. Assist the dog/cat bite victim immediately and shoulder the medical
93 expenses incurred and other incidental expenses relative to the victim’s
94 injuries.
95 Sec. 5. RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE OFFICE OF THE PROVINCIAL
96 VETERINARY – In the implementation of this Ordinance, the Office of the
97 Provincial Veterinary shall be tasked to:
98 1. Improve and upgrade existing animal rabies laboratory diagnostic
99 capabilities to ensure better services to the people.
100 2. Ensure the availability and adequate supply of animal anti-rabies vaccine at
101 all times.
102 3. Undertake free anti-rabies vaccination of dog/cat giving priority to high risk
103 depressed areas.
104 4. Maintain and improve animal rabies surveillance system.
105 5. Establish and maintain rabies free zone in coordination with the
106 municipalities in the Province of Northern Samar.
107 6. Strengthen the training of field personnel and the information education and
108 communication activities on rabies prevention and control and
109 responsibilities pet ownership.
110 Sec. 6. RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE PROVINCIAL HEALTH OFFICE
111 – It shall be the responsibility of this office to:
112 1. Ensure the availability and adequate supply of Department of Health pre-
113 qualified human anti-rabies vaccine in animal bite treatment centers at all
114 times and shall coordinate with other implementing agencies and concerned
115 non-government organizations for this purpose.
116 2. Provide Post-Exposure Treatment at the minimum expense to individuals
117 bitten by animals suspected of being rabid which will consist of the initial
118 vaccine and immunoglobulin dose.
119 3. Provide Pre-Exposure Treatment to high-risk personnel, such as, but not
120 limited to, laboratory staff, veterinarians, animal handlers, vaccinators and
121 other persons working with rabies virus for free.
122 4. Coordinate with the Office of the Provincial Veterinary in the development
123 of appropriate health education strategy to inform the public on rabies
124 prevention and control and responsible pet ownership.
125 5. Develop and maintain a human rabies surveillance system.
126 Sec. 7. CERTIFICATE OF RABIES VACCINATION - The Office of the
127 Provincial Veterinary shall provide, when vaccinating, a certificate of rabies
128 vaccination (in duplicate) for each animal vaccinated. The certificate shall include
129 the following information:
130 1. Owner’s name, address and telephone number (if any);
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131 2. Description of dog/cat (color, sex, markings, age, name, species and breed
132 (if any);
133 3. Dates of vaccination and vaccine expiration;
134 4. Rabies vaccination tag number;
135 5. Vaccinator’s name and signature.
136 Sec. 8. APPROPRIATION. – The initial amount of One Hundred Thousand
137 Pesos (Php100,000.00) shall be appropriated to cover the implementation of this
138 Ordinance. Thereafter, such amount shall be included in the succeeding annual
139 General Fund budgets.
140 Sec. 9. PENALTIES. – Any person who disobeys or violates or impedes the
141 implementation of any provision of this Ordinance or any rules and regulations
142 issued pursuant thereto shall, after conviction by final judgment, be punished with
143 a fine of not less than One Thousand Pesos (Php1,000.00) and not more than Five
144 Thousand Pesos (Php5,000.00), or an imprisonment of not less than one (1) month
145 and not more than six (6) months, or both such fine and imprisonment, at the
146 discretion of the court.
147 Sec. 10. SEPARABILITY CLAUSE. – If any provision of this Ordinance is
148 declared invalid, the remaining provisions hereof not affected by such declarations
149 shall remain in force and effect.
150 Sec. 11. REPEALING CLAUSE. – All ordinances, resolutions and other
151 issuances or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Ordinance are
152 hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
153 Sec. 12. EFFECTIVITY. – This Ordinance shall take effect one (1) month
154 after its publication for three (3) consecutive days in a newspaper of general
155 circulation within the Province.
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