Republic of the Whilippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 6889

Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.

Ss

EXPLANATORY NOTE

In 2016, the United Kingdom-based think tank Chatham House forecasted the
top ten countries that will significantly increase its chicken, pork, and beef
consumption from 2011 to 2021 and included in said list of countries is the
Philippines. With the current Philippine consumption averaging 35 kilograms per
person per year, it is estimated that manual growth rate would be over 30% a year
for pork, chicken, and beef.’ It will not be long before we may catch up with the
United Kingdom's standard of 80 kilograms per person per year.

At the same time, most of the meat consumed in the country is imported. In
fact, 80% of the pork eaten per year is imported.? With different locations for where
our meat supply comes from, there is a strong regulation for inspecting meat
especially for possible diseases, abnormalities, and rot. However, the trade of meat
from dead or diseased animals has become especially prevalent within the country.
Compared to the regulations for imported meats in the Meat Inspection Code of the
Philippines, the corresponding penalties for local meat are lacking and the
regulations are lax. The practice has begun to jeopardize both consumers and
producers alike by endangering health, destroying business reputations, and
disturbing market stability. With the inspected increase in meat consumption, the

1 Salazar, Tessa R., “PH among world’s fastest growing meat consumers” Philippine Daily Inquirer, 25
June 2016, http://business. inquirer.net/211357/ph-among-worlds-fastest-growing-meat-consumers-
‘say-experts.

2 Ibid,


insufficient penalties for meat may cause health concems for Philippine society at
large. Hence, there is a need to include more penalties to the current law.

This bill seeks to include sufficient penalties to Republic Act No. 9296
otherwise known as the Meat Inspection Code of the Philippines. The bill seeks to
protect the consuming public and the legitimate producers as well as ensure the

viability of the existing Act.

In view of the foregoing, immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

LUIS ID \Y” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Queson City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NoOB889

Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.

AN ACT
AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9296 OTHERWISE KNOWN AS “THE MEAT
INSPECTION CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES”, PRESCRIBING PENALTIES OF
IMPRISONMENT AND FINES FOR VIOLATIONS THEREOF AND AMENDING
CHAPTER XIV THEREOF FOR THE PURPOSE

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled.

SECTION 1. A new section is hereby inserted after Section Fifty-Eight Chapter XIV
of Republic Act No. 9296 otherwise known as “The Meat Inspection Code of the
Philippines”, to be denominated as Section Fifty-Eight-A, which shall read as follows.

"Section 58-A. PENALTIES. ANY PERSON, ASSOCIATION,
PARTNERSHIP OR CORPORATION WHO SHALL VIOLATE ANY OF THE
PROVISIONS OF SECTIONS 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, AND 54, CHAPTER XIl
OF THIS ACT, SHALL UPON CONVICTION, BE SUBJECT TO A FINE OF
NOT LESS THAN FIFTY THOUSAND PESOS (P50,000.00) BUT NOT
MORE THAN TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND PESOS (P200,000.00) OR AN
IMPRISONMENT OF NOT LESS THAN SIX (6) YEARS AND ONE (1) DAY
BUT NOT MORE THAN TWELVE (12) YEARS OR BOTH UPON THE
DISCRETION OF THE COURT.

IF THE VIOLATOR IS A CORPORATION, FIRM, PARTNERSHIP OR
ASSOCIATION, THE PENALTY SHALL BE IMPOSED UPON THE
PRESIDENT, THE MANAGER OR ANY OFFICER THEREOF WHO KNOWS
OR OUGHT TO HAVE KNOWN THE COMMISSION OF THE OFFENSE. IN
CASE THE GUILTY OFFICER IS A FOREIGNER, HE SHALL BE
IMMEDIATELY DEPORTED AFTER SERVICE OF SENTENCE."


SECTION 2. Another section is hereby inserted after section Fifty-Eight-B, which
shall read as follows:

"SECTION 58-B. LIABILITY OF PUBLIC OFFICERS. THE LIABILITY OF
PUBLIC OFFICERS TASKED WITH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS ACT,
WHO BY THEMSELVES OR IN CONSPIRACY WITH OTHERS, VIOLATE
THE PROVISIONS OF CHAPTER XII UNDER THIS ACT, SHALL BE
WITHOUT PREJUDICE TO LIABILITIES UNDER OTHER PENAL LAWS."

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in at least
two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,