NAVAL, Biliran, August 22 (PIA) -- The provincial legislators here moved to pass an ordinance to control the increasing incidence of rabies cases in the province of Biliran.
Sangguniang Panlalawigan member Miguel Casas Jr., chair of the Committee on Agriculture, said during the public hearing of the proposed Rabies Control Ordinance on August 19, that the recognition of Biliran as a rabies-free province in 2012 by the DOH and the DA, vanished after rabies cases were recorded in 2016 until this year.
"We hope that the passage of this ordinance, which gives more specific power and authority to officials of the barangays and towns as to its implementation, would help reduce, if not put an end, to rabies cases, as well as to prevent the loss of lives and properties due to road accidents caused by stray dogs," Casas said.
In attendance during the public hearing are municipal health officers, municipal agricultural officers, members of the provincial rabies prevention and control committee, and other concerned stakeholders.
The proposed ordinance provides compulsory registration and vaccination of all dogs three months old and above and requiring dog owners an annual registration fee of P30 for the first dog and additional P100 per head for the succeeding dogs. The collected registration fee per head shall accrue to barangay funds to finance and sustain the stringent implementation of rabies prevention and control program.
Vaccination is also made compulsory under the proposed ordinance for all dogs three months old and above.
Other provisions under compulsory vaccination is the confinement in the house with a perimeter fence for puppies below three months to avoid rabies infection and the mandatory dog vaccination.
Certificate of vaccination shall be issued with the following information: owner/possessor name, address, and telephone number, pets name, description of dog, vaccinator's signature, and veterinarian's license number and address.
Mandatory leashing or confinement of dog is required where owner shall provide a cage. A dog that recently gave birth shall be tethered or put in cage for 15 days and not allowed to go outside the perimeter fence unrestrained or unleashed. Dog owner's house without a perimeter fence shall leash or restrain the dog at all times and that no animal should be left stray. Only leashed or restrained dogs with dog tag or registration certificate accompanied by the owner or designate shall be allowed.
Establishment of dog pound in every barangay is required in the proposed ordinance with the corresponding fee of P500 for each dog and an additional P50 per day shall be imposed.
The ordinance also provides responsibility and liability of dog owners and possessors. Should a dog cause injury to a person, may it be vaccinated or not against rabies, shall be held responsible for the damage that they may cause. Damage shall include, but not limited to, hospital bills, cost of the human anti-rabies vaccine and funeral costs, in case of death of the victim, as certified by a government physician.
Pet owner/possessor who fail or refuse to abide by any of the provisions of the ordinance shall be fined of not less than P1,000 or an imprisonment of not less than two months but not more than six years, or both at the discretion of the court; dog owner who fail or refuse to have their dog vaccinated and immunized against rabies shall be punished by a fine of P2,000.
Also, dog owner 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. Dog owner who refuse to have their dog put under observation after said dog has bitten an individual shall be meted a fine of P 10,000 while dog owner 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 P25,000.
Dog owner who refuse to put leash on their dogs when they are brought outside the house shall be meted a fine of P5,000 for each incident while an impounded dog shall be released to its owner upon payment of a fine of not less than P500 but not more than P1,000. Any person found guilty of trading dog for meat shall be fined not less than P5,000 per dog subjected to imprisonment for one to four years.
It was also highly recommended that the Provincial director of the DILG be the co-chair of the provincial rabies prevention and control committee aside from the provincial veterinarian and provincial health officer considering the power and supervision of the office to LGUs.
Use of microchips and ear nuts in the proper identification of dog ownership upon registration are recommended by some MAOs during the public hearing. (ldl/rsv/PIA-Biliran)
Source: Philippines Information Agency (pia.gov.ph)
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