Libreng anti-rabies vaccine, pagpapakapon ng mga aso at pusa, isinusulong sa Animal Welfare Act
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According to the Mars Pet Care Pet Homelessness Project report,
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there are total of...
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13.11 million stray cats and dogs in the Philippines today.
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Because strays lack proper care or vaccinations,
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rabies is most common in countries where stray dogs are present in large numbers.
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The Philippines is in fact ranked 6th among countries with the highest rabies incidence in the world.
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An important question, just last month, Jamaica star Seraspe,
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a 13-year-old girl from Tondo,
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died after contracting rabies from a dog bite she got months before.
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This could have been prevented.
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An important question to ask, therefore, is whether we have sufficient animal welfare programs in place
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and whether our communities, especially in rural areas, have adequate access to quality veterinary healthcare services.
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On the national level,
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the responsibility of ensuring animal welfare falls on the hands of the community.
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The responsibility of ensuring animal welfare falls on the hands of the community.
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The responsibility of ensuring animal welfare falls on the hands of the community.
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As most of you agreed,
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this is under the purview of the Bureau of Animal Industry or BI,
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a staff bureau of the Department of Agriculture.
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a staff bureau of the Department of Agriculture.
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However, we know this is underfunded and understaffed.
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Under Republic Act 7160, or the Local Government Code,
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Under Republic Act 7160, or the Local Government Code,
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the delivery of veterinary services to communities has been devolved to the LGUs.
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the delivery of veterinary services to communities has been devolved to the LGUs.
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The local government code mandates that only provinces and cities should have their own veterinary officers.
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The local government code mandates that only provinces and cities should have their own veterinary officers.
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However, we must ensure that these are not underfunded.
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the local government code mandates that only provinces and cities should have their own veterinary officers.
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However, we must ensure that these are not underfunded.
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city should have their own veterinary officer. Hence, there is a reported shortage of veterinary
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personnel in smaller municipalities, and even cities that have veterinarians have to contend
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with inadequate resources. Ideally, the Department of Agriculture should be able to train and deputize
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animal welfare enforcement officers from the communities. The police for law enforcement
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and members of animal welfare organizations, such as those present here today, so that issues can be
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immediately taken care of at the barangay level in an effective but humane manner.
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In light of these matters, I introduce Senate Bill No. 2458, which seeks to improve the capacity
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of the Department of Agriculture in addressing animal welfare issues through a proper bureau
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which will be given to the Department of Agriculture.
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Senate Bill No. 2458, which seeks to improve the capacity of the Department of Agriculture
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It will firmly establish standards geared towards engendering responsible pet ownership,
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as well as ethical behavior and accountability from all those who have control over or provide
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care to animals. As such, the bill has more stringent penalties for violations of the Act,
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but also, more importantly, funding. Perhaps this bill can spark a discussion,
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with which time has come. With the help of all stakeholders, I'm sure we can come up with a law
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enabling a creation of society where we can coexist harmoniously. I would like to personally thank
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our selfless advocates, the closest to true human altruism, spending your own time and money
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with little or no government support. I think it's high time that you be
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supportive and listen to. We in the legislative sector, we're not perfect. We don't know
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all the details, but you have lived through this. You are continuing to provide support,
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so your insights are valuable. You can tell us, no, this section will not work,
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because A, B, and C, this is our experience on the ground. So help us craft a law that's going to
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truly pragmatic, that is truly something that can address the challenges that you are facing here
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today. Again, ma'am, thank you very much for your time. I know you've been really busy, and to all
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of you present here for your tireless efforts to protect our pets, of course, and animals in general.
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Thank you, ma'am.
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Thank you, ma'am.
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Thank you, ma'am.
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Thank you, ma'am.
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Especially for the poor, because they won't have money to feed the dogs and cats born out of their dogs and cats.
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That's why we have this free. And I know one of our attendees here, Ms. Marina Ortiz, is also doing this advocacy
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for the family and spending a lot of money for this.
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So we now go to the...
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Thank you, ma'am.
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Thank you, ma'am.
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Thank you, ma'am.
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Good morning everyone. So for the Bureau of Animal Industry, a staff bureau under the Department of Agriculture, it's mandated to implement two important laws governing animals in the Philippines, stray animals included.
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First is Republic Act 9482, otherwise known as the Anti-Rabies Act of 2007, which provides for the control, prevention of the spread and eventual eradication of animal and human rabies.
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At the same time, appropriating funds, therefore, and RA 8485 or the Animal Welfare Act of 1998 as amended by RA 10631 and its revised implementing rules and regulation.
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Republic Act 8485, otherwise known as the Anti-Rabies Act of 2007, which provides for the control, prevention, and eventual eradication of animals and human rabies.
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At the same time, appropriating funds, therefore, and RA 8485 or the Animal Welfare Act of 1998 was promulgated on February 11, 1998 with the aim of protecting and promoting the welfare of all animals in the Philippines.
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It was amended by RA 10631 on October 3, 2013 and the revised implementing rules and regulation released 10 days after.
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It includes but is not limited to the avoidance of abuse, maltreatment, cruelty, and exploitation of animals by humans by
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maintaining appropriate statuses,
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standards of accommodations,
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feeding and general care,
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the prevention and treatment of disease,
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and assurance of freedom from fear,
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distress, harassment,
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and unnecessary discomfort and pain,
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and allowing animals to express
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Animal welfare is a globally
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accepted and practiced concept
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that cuts across all industries,
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from food animals,
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pigs, cattle, goats, and
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poultry to companion animals, including
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wild and exotic species.
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It is steadily gaining traction as better understanding leads to economic growth and improvements in public health.
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The World Organization for Animal Health, or WOA, the veterinary counterpart of the World Health Organization,
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stated that animal welfare is closely linked to animal health,
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the health and well-being of people, and sustainability of socioeconomic and ecologic systems.
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Hence, it is an integral part or component towards our goal of food security,
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food safety, public health, and public safety.
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The Bureau of Animal Industry and the Animal Welfare Programs
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was founded upon the global concept
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of four strategic pillars of WOA.
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Madam Chair, may I interrupt?
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We appreciate this,
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but what you're reading us is
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just really your motherhood statement.
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Tell me exactly what you're doing now for animals.
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under the current
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staffing pattern of the Bureau of Animal Industry,
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we have an Animal Welfare Unit
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and the Animal Information and Advocacy Section.
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the Animal Welfare,
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is the Mandatory Registration
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of Animal Facilities.
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Advocacy for Animal Welfare.
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Wait, so, do you have a budget
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you need to vaccinate
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For anti-rabies, ma'am,
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10 million pesos for
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Oh, when was that?
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2024? Did that 10 billion download for you?
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Within DA, that's it.
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Within DA, that's the budget.
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Within DA, that's the budget.
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It was downloaded before procurement of rabies
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Ma'am, you might.
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How do you divide
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depending on which areas
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that have high cases,
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we will give them.
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We will give them.
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For now, there's none.
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When are you going to start?
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Once it's procured.
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We are waiting, ma'am.
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There's no advice from us.
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Give me the name of the DA
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that we can call.
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actually, I'm not aware.
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Who's in charge of the section?
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I'll download it.
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Ma'am, kahit sila nalilito na rin,
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hindi na nila alam.
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yung ating sistema.
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Hindi nga natin, kayo nga mismo,
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hindi nyo alam sinong lalapitan ninyo,
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Yes, ma'am. Si Dr. Sheng,
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Anong position niya?
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Section head po nung sa Animal Welfare Unit.
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meron bang nabigay na pera
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for the past 2 to 3 years po,
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Dapat lang pala mag-ingay tayo, ano?
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Pero dadagdagan yan ni Senator Cynthia.
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Thank you so much for the
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the inclusion of the kapon in your bill.
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It's across the board.
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It will stop stray dogs,
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and dog meat trade.
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So, as an organization,
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we've done 85,000 kapons
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all the way down to Sambuanga.
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In fact, even Pag-asa.
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So, we really feel
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it is crucial that the LGUs
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get into the habit
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of offering free kapon.
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Many LGUs already do.
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However, we need to incentivize
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to fund it some more.
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And I understand that the LGU level,
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they have many different priorities.
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And often, the dogs
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is the last priority.
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So, right now, there are LGUs
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that have almost no rabies vaccines.
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And very few have the ability
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And it's mostly because there's a
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lack of veterinary care.
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And there's also,
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the medicines are expensive.
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However, if we do kapon
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across the board,
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many of these problems
