THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

Rabies is an infectious viral disease that is almost always fatal following the onset of
clinical symptoms. In up to 99% of cases, domestic dogs are responsible for rabies
virus transmission to humans. Yet, rabies can affect both domestic and wild animals.
It is spread to people through bites or scratches, usually via saliva. (World Health
Organization, 2017)

The rabies virus infects the central nervous system, ultimately causing disease in the
brain and death. The early symptoms of rabies in people are similar to that of many
other illnesses, including fever, headache, and general weakness or discomfort. As
the disease progresses, more specific symptoms appear and may include insomnia,
anxiety, confusion, slight or partial paralysis, excitation, hallucinations, agitation,
hypersalivation (increase in saliva), difficulty swallowing, and hydrophobia (fear of
water). Death usually occurs within days of the onset of these symptoms. (Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention, 2016)

Rabies is present on all continents, except Antarctica, with over 95% of human
deaths occurring in the Asia and Africa regions.

Rabies is one of the neglected tropical diseases that predominantly affects poor and
vulnerable populations who live in remote rural locations. Although effective human
vaccines and immunoglobulins exist for rabies, they are not readily available or
accessible to those in need. Globally, rabies deaths are rarely reported and children
between the ages of 514 years are frequent victims. Treating a rabies exposure,
where the average cost of rabies post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is US$ 40 in
Africa and US$ 49 in Asia, can be a catastrophic financial burden on affected families
whose average daily income is around US$ 12 per person.

Every year, more than 15 million people worldwide receive a post-bite vaccination.
This is estimated to prevent hundreds of thousands of rabies deaths annually. (World
Health Organization, 2017)

Once bitten by an infected animal, the virus is then transmitted. It dwells inside the
human body silently incubating, when it reach the points wherein it is ready to cause
symptoms it may begin with a fever, headache, and general weakness (malaise)
Most people suddenly become restless, confused, and cannot keep themselves from
being excited. Their behavior may be strange. Hallucinations and insomnia may be
noticed. Salivation can be noticed and muscle spasm is very noticeable in the throat
and larynx because it virus affects the area in the brain that controls swallowing,
speaking, and breathing. Spams can be very painful. Spasm can be triggered when
the infected person attempts to drink water or feels a slight breeze. That is why
people with rabies cannot drink. This disease is often called Hydrophobia(fear of
water) because of this.(Elegino, 2017)

Even with the Republic Act No. 8485, also known as Animal Welfare Act of 1998,
which was created in order to protect and promote the welfare of all animals in the
Philippines by supervising end regulating the establishment and operations of all
facilities utilized for breeding, and Republic Act No. 9482, also known as the Anti-
Rabies Act of 2007, which was formulated in order to prevent the spread and the
eventual elimination of the human and animal rabies.Recent statistical record still
shows that a total of 783,663 animal bites across the country were registered in
2015. This is 10% higher than in 2014 with 683,802 cases. This trend was also
reflected in the National Capital Region (NCR) with 83,950 animal bites in 2014
increased to 131,508 in 2015. The increase in the number of reported cases could be
attributed to the improved surveillance and services which enabled bite cases to seek
treatment at established public Animal Bite Treatment Centers (ABTC) and/or private
Animal Bite Centers (ABC). However, this data also reflects that there is a need to
strengthen responsible pet ownership to prevent animal bite cases. As of March
2016, a total of 484 ABTCs/ABCs are located all over the country, 32 of which are in
Metro Manila. In 2015, DOH recorded NCR with the most number of rabies
exposures with 131,508 cases followed by Region 4A with 102,512 cases; Region 7
with 78,598 cases; Region 3 with 71,239 cases; and Region 6 with 65,087 cases.
Since 2008 up to 2015, there were 38 areas in the Philippines declared rabies-free
by DOH and Department of Agriculture. In 2015, Tingloy, Batangas; Agutaya,
Palawan; Balabac, Palawan and the province of Dinagat Island were the latest areas
added in the list. (DOH Philippines, 2016)

Pursuant to the provisions of the laws stated above; the people of the republic of the
Philippines are mandated to
Republic act. 8485 an act to promote animal welfare in the Philippines, otherwise
known as the The Animal Welfare Act of 1998

SECTION 1. It is the purpose of this Act to protect and promote the welfare of all
animals in the Philippines by supervising end regulating the establishment and
operations of all facilities utilized for breeding, maintaining, keeping, treating or
training of all animals either as objects of trade or as household pets. For purposes of
this Act, pet animals shall include birds.

SECTION 2. No person, association, partnership, corporation, cooperative or any

government agency or instrumentality including slaughterhouses shall establish,
maintain and operate any pet shop, kennel, veterinary clinic, veterinary hospital,
stockyard, corral, stud farm or zoo for the breeding, treatment, sale or trading, or
training of animals without first securing from the Bureau of Animal Industry a
certificate of registration

therefore.The certificate shall be issued upon proof that the facilities of such
establishment for animals are adequate, clean end sanitary and will not be used for
nor cause pain and/or suffering to the animals. The Certificate shall be valid for a
period of one (I) year unless earlier cancelled for just cause before the expiration of
its term by the Director of the Bureau of Animal Industry and may be renewed from
year to year upon compliance with the conditions imposed hereunder. The Bureau
shall charge reasonable fees for the issuance or renewal of such certificate.

The condition that such facilities be adequate, clean and sanitary, and that they will
not be used for nor cause pain and/or suffering to the animals is a continuing
requirement for the operation of these establishments. The Bureau may revoke or
cancel such certificate of registration for failure to observe these conditions and other
just cause.

SECTION 3. The Director of the Bureau of Animal Industry shall supervise and
regulate the establishment, operation and maintenance, of pet shops, kennels,
veterinary clinics, veterinary hospitals, stockyards, corrals, stud farms and zoos and
any other form or structure for the confinement of animals where they are bred,
treated, maintained, or kept either for sale or trade or for training purposes as well as
the transport of such animals in

any form of public or private transportation facility, in order to provide maximum

comfort while in transit and minimized, if not totally eradicate, incidence of sickness
and death and prevent any cruelty from being inflicted upon the animals.

The Director may call upon any Government agency for assistance consistent with its
powers, duties and responsibilities for the purpose of ensuring the effective and
efficient implementation of this Act and the rules and regulations promulgated
thereunder.

It shall be the duty of such government agency to assist said Director when called
upon for assistance using any available fund in it budget for the purpose.

SECTION 4. It shall be the duty of any owner or operator of any land, air or water
public utility transporting pet, wildlife and all other animals to provide in all cases
adequate, dean and sanitary facilities for sale conveyance and delivery thereof to
their consignee at the place of consignment. They shall provide sufficient food and
water for such animals while in transit for more than twelve (12) hours or whenever
necessary

No public utility shall transport any such animals without a written permit form the
Director of the Bureau of Animal Industry or his/her authorized representative. No
cruel confinement or restraint shall be made on such animals while being
transported.

Any form, of cruelty shall be penalized even if the transporter has obtained a permit
from the Director of the Bureau of Animal Industry. Cruelty in transporting includes
overcrowding, placing of animals in the trunks or under the hood trunks of vehicles.

SECTION 5. There is hereby created a Committee on Animal Welfare attached to the

Department of Agriculture which shall, subject to the approval of the Secretary of the
Department of Agriculture, issue the necessary rules and regulation for the strict
implementation of the provisions of this Act, including the setting of safety and
sanitary standards, within thirty (30) calendar days following its approval. Such
guidelines shall be reviewed by the Committee every three years from its
implementation or whenever necessary.

The Committee shall be composed of the official representatives of the

following:

1. The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG);

2. Department of Education, Culture and Sports (DECS)

3. Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) of the Department of Agriculture (DA)

4. Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau (PAWB) of the Department of Environment

and Natural Resources (DENR)

5. National Meat Inspection Commission (NMIC) of the DA

6. Agriculture Training Institute (ATI) of DA

7. Philippine Veterinary Medical Association

8. Veterinary Practitioners Association of the Philippines (VPAP)

9. Philippine Animal Hospital Association (PA HA)

10. Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS)

11. Philippine Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PSPCA)

12. Philippine Society of Swine Practitioners (PSSP)

13. Philippine College of Canine Practitioners (PCCP)

14. Philippine Society of Animal Science (PSAS)

The Committee shall be chaired by a representative coming from the private sector
and shall have two (2) vice-chairpersons composed of the representative of BAI and
another from the private sector.

The Committee shall meet quarterly or as often as the need arises. The Committee
members shall not receive any compensation but may receive reasonable honoraria
from time to time.
SECTION 6. It shall be unlawful for any person to torture any animal, to neglect to
provide adequate care, sustenance or shelter, or maltreat any animals or to subject
any dog or horse to dogfights or horse fights, kill or cause or procure to be tortured or
deprived of adequate care sustenance or shelter, or maltreat or use the same in
research or experiments not expressly authorized by the Committee on Animal
welfare.
The killing of any animal other than cattle, pigs, goats, sheep, poultry, rabbits,
carabao, horse, deer and crocodiles is likewise hereby declared unlawful except in
the following instances:

1. When it is done as part of the religious rituals of an established religion or sect or

ritual required by ethnic custom of indigenous cultural communities: however, leaders
shall keep records in cooperation with the Committee on Animal Welfare;

2. When the pet animal is afflicted with an incurable communicable disease as

determined and certified by a duly licensed veterinarians;

3. When the killing is deemed necessary to put an end to the misery suffered by the
animal as determined and certified by a duly licensed veterinarian;

4. When it is done to prevent an imminent danger to the life or limb of a human being;
and

5. When done for the purpose of animal population control;

6. When animal is killed after it has been used in authorized research or experiments;
and
7. Any other ground analogous to the foregoing as determined and certified by a
licensed veterinarian.

In all the above mentioned cases, including those of cattle, pigs, goats, sheep,
poultry, rabbits, carabao, hones, deer and crocodiles, the killing of the animals shall
be done through humane procedures at all times.

For this purpose, humane procedures shall means the use of the most scientific
methods available as may be determined and approved by the Committee.

Only those procedures approved by the Committee shall be used in killing of animals.

SECTION 7. It shall be the duty of every person to protect the natural habitat of the
wildlife. The destruction of said habitat shall be considered as a form of cruelty to
animals and its preservation is a way of protecting the animals.

SECTION 8. Any person who violate, any of the provisions of this Act shall, upon
conviction by final judgment, be punished by imprisonment of not less than six (6)
months nor more than two (2) years or a fine of not less than One thousand pesos
(P1,000) nor more than Five thousand pesos (P5,000) or both at the discretion of the
court. If the violation is committed by a juridical person, the officer responsible
therefore shall serve the imprisonment when imposed. If violation is committed by an
alien, he or she shall be immediately deported after serviced sentence without any
further proceedings.

SECTION 9. All laws, acts, decrees, executive orders, rules, and regulations
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified
accordingly.

SECTION 10. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in at
least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9482 Anti-Rabies Act of 2007

AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE CONTROL AND ELIMINATION OF HUMAN AND
ANIMAL RABIES, PRESCRIBING PENALTIES FOR VIOLATION THEREOF AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
Begun and held in Metro Manila, on Monday, the Nineteenth day of February, Two
Thousand Seven.
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:
Section 1. Title. - This Act shall be known as the Anti-Rabies Act of 2007.

Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - 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 human and animal Rabies shall be
provided and the need for responsible pet 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.
(c) Direct Supervision refers to range supervision where physical presence of the
veterinarian within the barangay is necessary.
(d) Dog refers to a common quadruped domestic animal belonging to the order
carnivora (male or female), scientifically known as canis familiaris.
(e) Euthanasia refers to the process of painless death to Dogs and other animals.
(f) Impound refers to seize and hold in the custody of the law.
(g) Owner refers to any person keeping, harboring or having charge, care or control of a
Dog including his/her representative.
(h) Pound refers to a public enclosure for stray animals.
(i) Public Place refers to any place open to the public like parks, malls, markets, streets,
etc.
(j) Rabies refers to a highly 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 other neurological manifestations.
(k) Rabies transmission refers to the transmission or passage of the Rabies virus
through a bite by an infected animal, or through contamination with virus-laden saliva on
breaks in the skin and of mucous membranes such as the eyes, the lips, the mouth, or
the genital organs.
(l) Rabies Vaccination/Immunoprophylaxis of Humans refers to the inoculation of
humans, with modern day rabies vaccines or Rabies immunoglobulin, by a trained
doctor or nurse under the supervision of a qualified medical practitioner.
(m) Rabies Vaccination of Dogs 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.
(n) Post-exposure Treatment (P.E.T) refers to an anti-Rabies treatment administered
after an exposure to Rabies, which include local wound care, Rabies vaccine, with or
without anti-Rabies immunizing agent.
(o) Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (P.E.P.) refers to Rabies vaccination administered before
an exposure to Rabies to those who are at high risk of getting Rabies.
(p) Stray Dog refers to any Dog leaving its Owners place or premise and no longer
under the effective control of the Owner.
(q) Veterinary or Human Barbiturates refer to drugs that depress the function of the
central nervous system.
Sec. 4. National Rabies Prevention and Control Program. - It is hereby mandated
that there shall be a National Rabies Prevention and Control Program to be
implemented by a multi-agency/multi-sectoral committee chaired by the Bureau of
Animal Industry of the Department of Agriculture. The program shall be a multi-agency
effort in controlling and eliminating Rabies in the country. Among its component
activities include:
(1) mass vaccination of Dogs;
(2) establishment of a central database system for registered and vaccinated Dogs;
(3) impounding, field control and disposition of unregistered, Stray and unvaccinated
Dogs;
(4) conduct of information and education campaign on the prevention and control of
Rabies;
(5) provision on pre-exposure treatment to high risk personnel and Post Exposure
Treatment to animal bite victims;
(6) provision of free routine immunization or Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (P.E.P.) of
schoolchildren aged five to fourteen in areas where there is high incidence of rabies as
well as the encouragement of the practice of responsible pet ownership;
(7) The program shall be implemented by the Department of Agriculture (DA),
Department of Health (DOH), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)
and Department of Education (DepEd), as well as Local Government Units (LGUs) with
the assistance of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Non-
Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and Peoples Organizations (POs).

Sec. 5. Responsibilities of Pet Owner. - All Pet Owners shall be required to:
(a) Have their Dog regularly vaccinated against Rabies and maintain a registration card
which shall contain all vaccinations conducted on their Dog, for accurate record
purposes.
(b) Submit their Dogs for mandatory registration.
(c) Maintain control over their Dog and not allow it to roam the streets or any Public
Place without a leash.
(d) Be a responsible Owner by providing their Dog with proper grooming, adequate food
and clean shelter.
(e) Within twenty-four (24) hours, report immediately any Dog biting incident to the
Concerned Officials for investigation or for any appropriate action and place such Dog
under observation by a government or private veterinarian.
(f) Assist the Dog bite victim immediately and shoulder the medical expenses incurred
and other incidental expenses relative to the victims 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 capabilities to
ensure better services to the people.
(2) Ensure the availability and adequate supply of animal anti-Rabies vaccine at all
times.
(3) Undertake free anti-Rabies Vaccination of Dogs giving priority to high risk depressed
areas.
(4) Maintain and improve animal Rabies surveillance system.
(5) Establish and maintain Rabies free zone in coordination with the LGUs.
(6) Immediately facilitate for the approval of the sale and use of Veterinary and Human
Barbiturate drugs and veterinary 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 responsiblepet
ownership.
(8) Conduct research on Rabies and its control in coordination with other agencies.
(9) Formulate minimum standards and monitor the effective implementation of this Act.
(10) Encourage collaborative activities with the DOH, DepEd, DILG, DENR, NGOs, POs
and other concerned sectors.

B. Department of Health
(1) Ensure the availability and adequate supply of DOH pre-qualified human AntiRabies
vaccine in animal bite treatment centers at all times and shall coordinate with other
implementing agencies and concerned NGOs for this purpose.
(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, such as, but not limited to,
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 pet ownership.
(5) Develop and maintain a human Rabies surveillance system.(6) Encourage
collaborative activities with the DA, DepEd, DILG, DENR, NGOs, POs and other
concerned sectors.
(7) Immediately approve the registration of Veterinary and Human Barbiturate drugs and
veterinary euthanasia drugs in coordination with the PDEA.

C. Department of Education
(1) Strengthen Rabies education program through school health teaching/curriculum.
(2) Assist in the Dog mass immunization campaigns in the community.
(3) Encourage collaborative activities with the DA, DOH, DILG, DENR, NGOs, POs and
other concerned sectors.
(4) Integrate proper information and education on responsible pet ownership in the
relevant subjects in the Elementary and High School levels.

Sec. 7. Responsibilities of the LGUs. - LGUs, in their respective localities, shall:

(1) Ensure that all Dogs are properly immunized, registered and issued a corresponding
Dog tag for every immunized and registered Dog.
(2) Strictly enforce Dog Impounding activities and field control to eliminate Stray Dogs.
(3) Ensure that Dogs are leashed or confined within the premises of the Owners house
or Owners fenced surroundings.
(4) Allocate funds to augment the implementation of the National Rabies Prevention and
Control Program, particularly on the financing of supplies and human and Dog vaccines
needed for immunization.
(5) Ensure the enforcement of Section 6 of Republic Act No. 8485 or The Animal
Welfare Act of 1998.
(6) 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.
(7) Prohibit the trade of Dogs for meat.
(8) 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, shall, on their own, establish a Dog Pound or
opt to share the expense of establishing and maintaining a Dog Pound with other
adjoining municipalities and/or with private animal shelters and control facilities.
(9) Prohibit the use of electrocution as a euthanasia procedure.
(10) Appoint a veterinarian and establish a veterinary office in every province, city and
first-class municipality: Provided, That the other municipalities shall, on their own, opt to
share the expense of having a veterinary office.
(11) Require pet shops to post information regarding Rabies and responsible pet
ownership.
(12) For purposes of ensuring the administrative feasibility of implementing the
provisions of this Act and subject to paragraph 8 of this Section, the LGU shall collect
the fines imposed under Section 11 subparagraphs (1). (3), (4), (5) and (6) 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 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:
(1) Community mobilization.
(2) Health education/information dissemination on Rabies and responsible pet
ownership.
(3) Mass anti-Rabbies campaign
(4) Promotion of the anti-Rabies campaign during pet or any animal shows.
(5) Surveillance/reporting of Rabies cases in animals and humans.
(6) 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:
(1) Unregistered, Stray or unvaccinated Dogs shall be impounded and kept in the LGUs
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 otherwise disposed of in any manner authorized, subject to the pertinent
provisions of Republic Act No. 8485, otherwise 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. 10. 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 and POs shall
undertake an educational and promotional campaign on responsible Pet 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 Pets Owner.
Sec. 11. Penalties. -
(1) Pet Owners who fail or refuse to have their Dog registered and immunized against
Rabies shall be punished by a fine of Two thousand pesos (P2,000.00).
(2) Pet 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) Pet 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 (P10,000.00).
(4) Pet 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 (P25,000.00).
(5) Pet 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
(P1,000.00).
(7) Any person found guilty of trading Dog for meat shall be fined not less than Five
thousand pesos,(P5,000.00) per Dog and subjected to imprisonment for one to four
years.
(8) Any person found guilty of using electrocution as a method of euthanasia shall be
fined not less than Five thousand pesos (P5,000.00) per act and subject to
imprisonment for one to four years.
(9) If the violation is committed by an alien, he or she shall be immediately deported
after service of sentence without any further proceedings.
Sec. 12. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The DA, in coordination with the
DOH, DILG, DepEd, DENR, NGOs and POs shall issue the necessary rules and
regulations within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of this Act.
Sec. 13. Appropriations. - The amount of One hundred million pesos
(P100,000,000.00) 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 shall 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 Act.
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. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in
the Official Gazette or in at least two newspapers of general circulation, whichever
comes earlier.

This study is anchored Leavell and Clark's Levels of Prevention (1975). In this model
it suggests that the natural history of any disease exists on a continuum, with health at
one end and advanced disease at the other. The model delineates three levels of the
application of preventive measures that can be used to promote health and arrest the
disease process at different points along the continuum. The goal is to maintain a
healthy state and to prevent disease or injury. (Allender JA, Spradley BW. Community
health nursing concepts and practice. 5th edition. Lippincott;Philadelphia:2001, Pp 10-
12.)

Primordial prevention prevents the appearance of the mediating risk factors in the
population, focusing on aspects of social organization and aiming to modify the
conditions that generate and structure the unequal distribution of health-damaging
exposures, susceptibilities and health-protective resources among the population.
(Giampaoli S. Primordial prevention of cardiovascular diseases-the role of blood
pressure. Eur Cardiol Rev 2007;3:20-1. Back to cited text no. 6)

Primary prevention is the action taken prior to the onset of disease, which removes the
possibility that the disease will ever occur. It includes the concept of positive health, that
encourages the achievement and maintenance of an acceptable level of health that will
enable every individual to lead a socially and economically productive life.
(Allender JA, Spradley BW. Community health nursing concepts and practice.
5thedition.Lippincott;Philadelphia:2001, Pp 10-12.)

Secondary prevention is the action which halts the progress of a disease at its incipient
stage and prevents complications. The domain of clinical medicine. An imperfect tool in
the transmission of disease. More expensive and less effective than primary prevention.
(Allender JA, Spradley BW. Community health nursing concepts and practice.
5thedition.Lippincott;Philadelphia:2001, Pp 10-12.)
Tertiary Prevention are all measures available to reduce or limit impairment and
disabilities, minimize suffering caused by existing departures from good health and to
promote the patient's adjustment to irremediable conditions.
(Allender JA, Spradley BW. Community health nursing concepts and practice.
5thedition.Lippincott;Philadelphia:2001, Pp 10-12.)

Milios Framework for Prevention. In this model Milios Framework of prevention a nurse
and leader in public health policy and public health education developed a framework
for prevention that includes concepts of community-oriented, population focused care.

The basic treatise is that behavioral patterns of populations and individuals who make
up populations are a result of habitual selection from limited choices. She challenged
the common notion that a main determinant for unhealthful behavioral choice is lack of
knowledge. Governmental and institutional policies, she said set the range of options for
personal choice making. It neglected the role of community health nursing, examining
the determinants of community health and attempting to influence those determinants
through public policy. (Kulkarni. Text book of community medicine,6th edition, page
no.456-460.)

Rabies remains a global zoonosis of major public health, agricultural and economic
significance. Dogs are the major animal reservoirs in developing regions, wildlife
maintain cycles of infection even in developed countries and new viral etiological agents
continue to emerge. Nearly all human rabies cases are related directly to animal bite
and thus, primary disease prevention requires minimization of suspected exposures.
Once exposure occurs, modern prophylaxis entails immediate wound care, local
infiltration of rabies immune globulin and parenteral administration of modern cell
culture vaccines in multiple doses. Pre-exposure vaccination should occur in selected
population groups at risk of occupational exposure. Historically, survival from fatal
rabies by at least five human patients, vaccinated prior to the onset of clinical signs,
signaled initial optimism as to the theoretical utility of medical intervention. Recently, the
heroic recovery of an unvaccinated teenager from clinical rabies offers hope of future
specific therapy. Canine rabies elimination is the key towards ultimate reduction of the
disease burden, as first illustrated in developed countries. Implementation of oral
vaccination in free-ranging carnivore hosts demonstrates the feasibility of disease
abatement in particular wildlife populations, such as demonstrated in Europe and North
America, with an enhanced need for application to developing countries in the
Americas, Africa and Eurasia.(Current and future trends in the prevention, treatment
and control of rabies by Charles E. Rupprecht, Rodney Willoughby & Dennis Slate
Published: January 10, 2014)

Salmon Whites construct for public health nursing states that public health as an
organized societal effort to protect, promote and restore the health of people and public
health nursing as focused on achieving and maintaining public health.
He gave 3 practice priorities i.e.; prevention of disease and poor health, protection
against disease and external agents and promotion of health. For these 3 general
categories of nursing intervention have also been put forward, they are:
-education directed toward voluntary change in the attitude and behaviour of the
subjects
-engineering directed at managing risk-related variables
-enforcement directed at mandatory regulation to achieve better health.
(Stanhope M; Lancaster J. Community Health Nursing Promoting health of Aggregates,
Families and individuals.(4th edn) 2001.Mosby,265-80.)

CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK: LOCAL POLICIES ON PETS FOR HEALTHY CITIES

According to the Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion, health is a resource for living,
not the objective of living, lived by people within the settings of their everyday life and
created by caring for oneself and others (WHO, 1986). Within health promotion, the
others in question have been interpreted to mean human beings, exclusively. Yet for
millions of people, pets are deeply implicated on a daily basis in caring for the self and
others. In fact, pets themselves are often regarded as significant others. Furthermore,
keeping pets in urban areas generates ripple effects (Wood et al., 2007). Such ripple
effects can impact positively or negatively on neighbors, acquaintances and utter
strangers (Toohey and Rock, 2011; Derges et al., 2012).
Caring for a pet in an urban environment thus entails consideration for other people and
other animals. Insofar as caring for pets may overlap with caring for oneself, other
people and other animals in complex socio-ecological systems, the concept of One
Health takes on renewed importance for promoting health in human and animal
populations in urban areas. This concept evolved from the concept of One Medicine,
which stressed commonalities between medical science for people and veterinary
science with animals, but One Health is broader in scope (Zinsstag et al., 2011).
Whereas research and practice in One Health have emphasized zoonotic infections
(e.g. SARS, H1N1, brucellosis, rabies), food safety, water safety and environmental
toxins, One Health is highly relevant to non-communicable diseases and to non-clinical
influences on population health, too (Rock et al., 2009; Green, 2012). Furthermore, to
the extent that non-communicable diseases and non-clinical influences on human
health increasingly implicate pet animals (Degeling et al., 2013), the concept of One
Health and the tenets of health promotion apply to pets as well as to people.
Environmental theory focuses in altering the environment of the patient in order to affect
change in his or her health. Nightingale stated that nursing ought to signify the proper
use of fresh air, light, warmth, cleanliness, quiet, and the proper selection and
administration of diet all at the least expense of vital power to the patient. She
reflected the art of nursing in her statement that, the art of nursing, as now practised ,
seems to be expressly constituted to unmake what God had made disease to be, viz., a
reparative process. If any of these areas is lacking, the health of the citizen may be
compromised. Microorganism that are harmful may dwell in the feces of animals, and
there is a big chance that it might be transmitted by a disease vector such as the
common housefly. That is why the theory of Nightingale is a highlight in this research
(Nursing Theory and Conceptual Framework, Fundamentals of Nursing: Human Health
and Function, Ruth F. Craven and Constance J. Hirnle, 2003, pp.56)
In reflection with the findings of the Department of Health - Philippines, our region still
secured a spot in one of the highest reported cases of rabies ranking 3rd with a
staggering 78,598 cases; followed by Region 3 with 71,239 cases; and Region 6 with
65,087 cases. Since 2008 up to 2015. The NCR with the most number of rabies
exposures with 131,508. We really need to give big importance in battling rabies
because of the fact that it doesnt only lead to paralysis but also death. Yes, it is
preventable. But the importance of rabies vaccination is sometimes neglected. The
population of house hold animals especially dogs are not well monitored by our
government, stray dogs are neglected and not given importance, which leads to
increased more animal bite cases. Our research will focus more in dealing problems
why such happenings occurs. We aim to as much as possible spread awareness of
rabies, and hopefully contribute in the eradication of this disease. We want a rabies free
Philippines.

The theories and principles just presented are conceptualized in Figure I.

Conceptual Framework
Allender J.N; Spradely B.W. Community Health Nursing Concepts and practice. (8th
edn) 2001.Lippincott,342-45.
Stanhope M; Lancaster J. Community Health Nursing Promoting health of Aggregates,
Families and individuals.(4th edn) 2001.Mosby,265-80.
Craven RF, Hirnle CJ. Fundamentals of Nursing Human Health and Function.5th edn.
Lippincott; Philadelphia:2007, Pp-259-284.
Taylor C, Lillis C, Lemone P. Fundamentals of nursing the art and science of nursing
care. 5th edn. Lippincott; Newdelhi:2006, 63-65.
Potter PA, Perry AG. Fundamentals of nursing.6th edn.Mosby;Newdelhi:2005 Pp-91-4.
Black JM, Hawks JH. Medical Surgical nursing clinical management for positive
outcomes. Vol1. 7th edition. Saunders; India : 2005, Pp 134-136.
Allender JA, Spradley BW. Community health nursing concepts and practice.
5thedition.Lippincott;Philadelphia:2001, Pp 10-12.
Park K. Text book of Preventive and social medicine, 18th editiion,13-29.
Kulkarni. Text book of community medicine,6th edition, page no.456-460.

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Davidson, Winston. Priciples of Prevention: The Four Stages Theory of Prevention.

Academia. Edu. January 29, 2013.<http://www.academia.edu/894962/>.

http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs099/en/
https://www.cdc.gov/rabies/transmission/body.html