BONTOC, Mountain Province – The public is once again reminded to adhere to the existing Municipal Anti-Rabies Control Ordinance of this capital town.
Sponsored by Sangguniang Bayan member Benedict Odsey II, the ordinance aims to promote responsible pet ownership, strengthen rabies control and eradication efforts, ensure health sanitation, especially in public places, encourage immediate reporting of stray dogs, and prevent the emergence and spread of infectious diseases.
Thus, pet owners are advised to put their dogs on leash, not to let their pets outside of their residences or premises without leash, and have their dogs vaccinated with anti-rabies.
Any person who violates the ordinance shall pay a fine of not less than PhP500 for the first offense, and PhP1,000 for the second and succeeding offenses.
The fines to be paid by the violators shall be shared by the municipal government and concerned barangay for the implementation and execution of the ordinance by the respective barangay tanods, green police, and other authorized functionaries from the barangay. Thus, the municipal government has a 30% share while the concerned barangay will have a 70% share.
It is to be noted that in support of the ordinance, the municipal government, through the Office of the Municipal Agriculturist (OMAg), initiated the conduct of Dog Catching Training participated in by the different barangay tanods from barangays Bontoc Ili, Samoki, Caluttit, and Poblacion, as well as personnel from the Municipal Health Office.
Likewise, giving teeth to the ordinance, the municipal government through the Municipal Anti Rabies Control Council in collaboration with the respective barangays have carried out a series of dog-catching activities in the central business district.
Per record from the OMAg, the said office has recorded four positive cases of rabies from January 2023 to present. By Alpine L. Killa-Malwagay & Aprilyn P. Tudlong
