THE Lapu-Lapu City Council has passed an ordinance mandating the registration and vaccination of all dogs and cats amid a sharp rise in animal bite incidents.
The ordinance provides for free registration and annual rabies vaccinations at the City Veterinary Office (CVO). Pet owners who fail to comply will face penalties. The ordinance will take effect after the mayor signs it.
Councilor Emilio Galaroza Jr., chairperson of the committee on health and drugs, told SunStar Cebu on Monday, June 23, 2025, that all residents with dogs and cats are eligible for free vaccinations and lifetime registration.
The measure, titled “An Ordinance for the Enhancement of Rabies Control Measures and the Establishment of Responsible Pet Ownership in the City of Lapu-Lapu, Providing Penalties and Appropriating Funds Therefore,” was approved on third and final reading on Wednesday, June 18.
According to the CVO, animal bite cases in the city rose to 12,662 from January to May 2025, more than 2,700 cases higher than the same period last year.
Galaroza said the measure aims to curb rabies transmission by ensuring that at least 70 percent of the city’s estimated 90,000 animal population is vaccinated.
“It’s similar to achieving Covid-19 herd immunity. If we vaccinate 70 percent of the population, it becomes much less likely for the virus to spread from one dog to another,” Galaroza said, adding that the City aims for full coverage.
He added that an information campaign will precede the implementation of the ordinance, giving the public up to six months to prepare. The campaign will explain the registration and vaccination process and penalties.
Sanctions
Under Article 6 of the ordinance, all pet owners must register their dogs and cats with the CVO, regardless of where the pets came from or if they were previously registered elsewhere. Registration is free and valid for life, with each pet issued an ID card and a durable tag that includes the pet’s name, registration number, and the owner’s contact details.
Failure to register a pet will result in a P1,000 fine.
Article 7 mandates rabies vaccinations for all dogs and cats aged three months and older. Owners must ensure annual vaccinations, either for free at the CVO or at a private veterinary clinic at their expense.
Penalties for failing to comply are:
First offense: P1,000
Second offense: P2,000
Third and subsequent offenses: P3,000
Violations of Article 8(c) and (d), which classify unconfined pets as strays, will incur:
P500 for the first offense
P1,000 for the second
P3,000 for the third and subsequent offenses
Pets found without identification tags will be impounded. The barangay will notify owners, who must claim their pets within five days by presenting proof of ownership and fulfilling registration and vaccination requirements. Tagged pets may be claimed within 10 days.
Article 9, Section 9(c)(3), penalizes owners who fail to collect or properly dispose of pet waste. Offenders will be fined P500 for each incident. / DPC WITH YVON MARATAS, BENEDICTO COLLEGE