WHEREAS, there is a public clamor not only in the Metro Manila area but also in the entire country for the proper treatment and protection of dogs, which are man's faithful pet and companion in the home.

WHEREAS, the Metropolitan Manila Commission has intensified its campaign for canine protection in the face of the growing dog meat trade in the country with Metro Manila as the entry point of dogs transported by ships, motor vehicles and trains from all directions: and

WHEREAS, there is a need for an ordinance for canine protection which shall have a uniform application in all cities and municipalities in Metro Manila.

NOW, THEREFORE, be it ordained by this Commission that:

SECTION 1. Killing and/or Selling of Dogs Prohibited. - The killing and selling of dogs for food, and for any other purpose not hereinafter authorized, or the storing, selling or offering for sale of dog meat in restaurants, hotels, inns, boarding houses, and other eating places, or in any other place within Metro Manila is hereby prohibited: PROVIDED, however, that this prohibition shall not apply when there is a good and valid cause for the killing, or where the dog to be killed is a mad dog or on afflicted with an incurable disease in which case, the dog should b killed humanely and disposed of in accordance with existing health ordinances.

SECTION 2. Transshipment of Dogs and Storage and Keeping of Dog Meat. - It is likewise prohibited for any person to ship or cause to b shipped or transported any dog to or from Metro Manila, except where the shipment of the animal is for a good and valid purpose as where the same shall be kept and cared for as a pet, but in such case the transported animals shall each be placed in a suitable cage. Any person desiring to transport any dog to Metro Manila must first bring such dog to a veterinarian or a licensed animal clinic for anti-rabies vaccination, unless it has already been immunized and shall register the same pursuant to Section 5 hereof.

It is also prohibited for any person to bring in dog meat from any point outside Metro Manila and to store the same in any place or storage within Metro Manila, or transship such meat through any exit point in Metro Manila.

SECTION 3. Cruelty to Dogs. - It is prohibited for any person in Metro Manila to torture or torment a dog or, for any owner to cruelly neglect to provide said animal with necessary sustenance or shelter or to cruelly beat or mutilate the same, or for any person who, while transporting a dog to or from Metro Manila, shall do it in any manner that is tantamount to torturing or tormenting the animal or cruelly neglecting to provide it with the necessary sustenance or shelter.

SECTION 4. Vaccination. - All dog owners within Metropolitan Manila shall submit their dogs for anti-rabies vaccination by a licensed private or government veterinarian initially three (3) months immediately after birth, or within five (5) days from arrival within the area unless previously immunized and regularly thereafter as determined by a competent veterinary officer. The owner shall at all times be prepared to present a current certificate of vaccination to the proper authorities upon demand.

SECTION 5. Registration. - All dogs within Metro Manila shall be registered with the Office of the Barangay Chairman concerned within one (1) week after birth or within five (5) days from date of arrival within the barangay if the same was brought from elsewhere. A registration fee of One Peso and Fifty Centavos (P150.00) for each dog registered shall be charged for the purpose, the same to be paid to the Office of the Barangay Treasurer, Fifty Centavos (P0.50) of which shall form part of the barangay fund, Fifty Centavos (P0.50) to be remitted to the City/Municipal Treasurer concerned and Fifty Centavos (P0.50) to the Metro Manila Commission, the same to constitute as a special fund to implement the Ordinance.

SECTION 6. Creation of a Committee - There is hereby created a Committee to be known as the Committee on Canine Protection. It shall be composed of a Chairman and two (2) members to be appointed by the Governor of Metro Manila and which shall oversee and supervise the implementation hereof. The Committee is authorized and empowered to call upon any official or employee in the Metro Manila Commission and in the cities and municipalities under its jurisdiction for such assistance as may be necessary and for similar assistance invite the representatives of private associations concerned with the welfare, care and health of dogs.

SECTION 7. Donations. - In order to carry out effectively the aims and objectives of the Ordinance, the Metropolitan Manila Commission may accept donations in cash or in kind, from any foreign international organization or body as well as from Filipino citizens residing abroad or in the Philippines , and from government and private entities within the Philippines.

SECTION 8. Establishments of Dog Kennels. - The establishment of dog kennels within Metro Manila is hereby authorized. The dog kennels, as far as practicable, shall be located in a central point of Metropolitan Manila area and shall serve as the Central Pound for dogs which may be confiscated or impounded under this Ordinance.

SECTION 9. Penalties. - Any person found guilty of violating Sections 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 thereof, shall be punished by a fine of not less than One Hundred Pesos (P100.00) and not more than Two Thousand Pesos (P2,000.00) or imprisonment of not more than six (6) months, or both, such fine and imprisonment at the discretion of the court.

In the case of violation of Section 2, the dogs or dog meat being transshipped shall, in addition, be confiscated and impounded or disposed of by the Committee on Canine Protection.

SECTION 10. Collection of Flames and Penalties. - The fines imposed for violation of this Ordinance shall be paid to the City or Municipal Treasurer concerned in the Metro Manila area who shall turn over the same to, and shall accrue as a special fund of, the Metro Manila Commission to be expended in the implementation of this Ordinance.

SECTION 11. Appropriation. - The sum of One Hundred Thousand Pesos (P100,000.00) is hereby appropriated out of the revenues of the Metro Manila Commission as an initial outlay for the implementation of this Ordinance. Thereafter, the funds to be used for the purposes of this Ordinance shall come from the subsequent appropriations in the budget of the Metro Manila Commission and from donations, fees and fines collected hereunder.

SECTION 12. Separability Clause. - If for any reason any section or provision of this Ordinance is declared illegal or unconstitutional, other Sections or provisions hereof which are not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect.

SECTION 13. Repealing Clause. - All ordinances, rules and regulations of cities and municipalities in Metropolitan Manila which are inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SECTION 14. Effectivity. - This Ordinance shall take effect upon its approval.

DONE IN MANILA, PHILIPPINES, this 8th day of July in the Year of our Lord nineteen hundred and eighty-two.

BY AUTHORITY OF THE GOVERNOR:

(SGD.) ISMAEL A. MATHAY, JR.
Vice-Governor