ORDINANCE NO: 1993-109 (Bill No. 35) "AN ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR THE CREATION OF A CITY RABIES CONTROL COMMITTEE, REGISTRATION, COMPULSORY VACCINATION AND CONTROL OF UNVACCINATED, INFECTED OR STRAY DOGS, AND CATS WITHIN PAGADIAN CITY AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFORE" WHEREAS, rabies, a fatal communicable disease of both men and animals, continues as a major public health concern; WHEREAS, in recognition of the need for an inter-agency collaboration to effectively implement a nationwide animal rabies control program, national agencies composed of the Department of Agriculture through the Bureau of Animal Industry, Department of Health, Department of the Interior and Local Government, Department of Education, Culture and Sports, and in cooperation with the various Non-Government Organizations, have come up with a Memorandum of Agreement and created the Rabies Control Consultative Committee (RCCC) with the National Rabies Committee (NRC) as its implementing arm; WHEREAS, the Department of the Interior and Local Government has encouraged the participation of Local Government Units in the programs; NOW, THEREFORE, the Sangguniang Panlungsod of the City of Pagadian do hereby ordain: ARTICLE I - GENERAL PROVISIONS SECTION 1. - Title. - This Ordinance shall be known as Rabies Control Ordinance. SECTION 2. - Definition. - For the purpose of this Ordinance, the following terms and phrases shall be construed to mean: Dog - refers to an animal belonging to the CANIS FAMILIARIS of the CARNIVORA, or flesh-eating mammals. Cat - refers to an animal belonging to the species FELIS CATUS DOMESTICUS. Owner/possessor - means any person who is the sole or part owner of any dog or cat including any person who is in-charge of the animal. The occupant of the premises on which any animal is found shall be presumed to be the owner/possessor of such animal until the contrary is proven. Astray dog or cat - means any dog or cat not kept in compliance with the regulation for rabies prevention and control. Vaccination - means the administration of an approved anti rabies vaccine to an animal, particularly a dog or a cat. SECTION 3. - Creation of the City Rabies Control Committee. - There is hereby created a City Rabies Control Committee (CRCC), in the Office of the Mayor which shall be composed of the following: A. Mayor - Chairman B. Chairman, Committee on Health, Sangguniang Panlungsod - Vice Chairman C. City Veterinarian - Executive Officer D. Members - The City Health Officer or his representative The City Schools Division Superintendent or his representative The City Prosecutor or his representative The City Station Commander or his representative The representative of the NGOs The City Local Government Operations Officer or his representative SECTION 4. - Functions of the Committee. - The Committee shall have the following functions: Formulate and implement immediate and long term policies, plans and programs for the control of rabies in the city; Provide a medium for the involvement of all local officials and inhabitants in the control of rabies; Provide a mechanism for linkages with the Regional Rabies Control Consultative Committee (RRCCC); Formulate a system of monitoring, evaluating and reporting of the accomplishment of rabies control program; Develop appropriate information and educational materials on rabies; Perform such other functions related to the program. SECTION 5. - Organization of Barangay Rabies Control Committee. - Within a month after the effectivity of this Ordinance, the City Rabies Control Committee shall undertake to organize the Barangay Rabies Control Committees patterned as much as possible to the City Rabies Control Committee (CRCC) and to be headed respectively by the Barangay Chairmen. ARTICLE II - REGISTRATION SECTION 1. - Duty of Owner/Possessor of Dogs and Cats. - It shall be the duty of every owner/possessor to have his dog(s) or cat(s) registered with the Office of the Barangay Chairman concerned within one (1) month after birth or from date of arrival within the barangay if the same was brought from elsewhere. After a month of effectivity of this Ordinance, all dogs and cats in the respective barangays must be registered with the said office of the Barangay Chairman. SECTION 2. - Mandatory Leashing or Confinement or Dogs and Cats. - Immediately after the effectivity of this Ordinance, all owners/possessors are required to leash or provide appropriate confinement to their dogs and cats in order to minimize the transmission of the disease by direct contact. SECTION 3. - Disposal of Infected Dogs and Cats. - Within the same period as indicated in the preceding section any dog or cat found to be astray and infected with rabies shall be destroyed by euthanasia and the carcass be burned or buried immediately thereafter. SECTION 4. - Massive Information Drive on Rabies. - The Committee shall formulate and implement an effective information drive to inform the residents of the provisions of this Ordinance. ARTICLE V - MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS SECTION 1. - Penalty Clause. - Any owner/possessor of the animals referred to herein who violates any provision of this Ordinance or its implementing guidelines shall be punishable by a fine of not less than Three Hundred (P300.00) Pesos but not more than One Thousand (P1,000.00) Pesos. Should the violator fail to pay the fine, he/she shall suffer imprisonment of not less than one (1) week but not more than one (1) month. SECTION 3. - Separability Clause. - If any provision or part of this Ordinance shall be declared unconstitutional or invalid, the same shall not affect the constitutionality of validity of the other provisions of this Ordinance. SECTION 4. - Repealing Clause. - All ordinances or resolutions which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Ordinance are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly. SECTION 5. - Effectivity. - This Ordinance shall take effect after its approval, and after proper dissemination of the same is made. ENACTED AND APPROVED by the Sangguniang Panlungsod of Pagadian City during its 34th Regular Session on August 23, 1993 at the Session Hall.