FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Sessiou 
) 
) 
) 
S.B. No. 2697 
Iutroduced by SEN. MANNY VILLAR 
EXPLANATORY N6TE 
, 
·11 
FEB 14 P 5 :30 
Double-dead meat is the Filipino appellation for m"at taken from an animal which has died 
of disease 1• 
Also known as "Botcha" or hot meat, it is can also be the meat of a dying or sick 
animal. Hog or poultry owners slaughter these animals before they die and sell the meat goods at a 
cheap price to willing meat vendors2. Despite the existen<;e of laws and ordinances which prohibit 
the selling of double-dead meat, low price and availability flre the reasons for the proliferation of the 
sale of double-dead meat in the market. According to the National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS), 
in May 2008, about three (3) tons of pork and 63 kilos of bUffalo meat were being sold by around 10 
stalls outside the market for about P80-P90 per kilo. 
" 
Double-dead meat contains germs and micro-organisms that could cause illnesses like 
diarrhea and food poisoning. 
The State, consistent with its policy to protect and promote the right to health of the people 
and instill health consciousness among them, is mandated to put a stop to this unscrupulous practice 
of selling double-dead meat to consumers who only wan~ to save a few pesos in food expenses. 
Indeed, the appropriate method of dealing with diseased hog and chicken carcasses is disposal by 
burial or burning and not cooking and serving them to clueless people who unknowingly put their 
health and worse, their lives at risk. 
In view of the foregoing, the approval of this initiati,ve is earnestly sought. 
, 
1 Lopez, Allison, "400 kilos of 'double-dead' meat seized from Divisor,,ia", Philippine Daily Inquirer, December 13, 
2007 
2 http://newsflavor .com/world/asia/botcha-meat-dea lers-still-at -Ia 'gel 
" 
1 


i>£'HI,'l;1' 
v 
FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
\~Hhl', of tfpl}fI'HZbt'\! 
'11 
FEB 14 P 5 :30 
, 
S.B. No. 269,7 
" 
Introduced by SEN. MANNY VILLAR 
AN ACT 
DECLARING THE IMPORTATION, SELLING AND, DISTRIBUTION OF "BOTCHA" OR 
MEAT WITH FOOD AND MOUTH DISEASE (FMD) VIRUS OR ANY ILL-
QUARANTINED MEAT OR MEAT-PRODUCTS AS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE AMENDING 
FOR THIS PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9296 OTHERWISE KNOWN AS "THE MEAT 
INSPECTION CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES" AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SECTION 1. Section 48 of Chapter XII of Republic Act No. 9296 otherwise known as "The 
Meat Inspection Code of the Philippines" is hereby amended in part by adding a subsection to be 
denominated as Section 48 (e) to read as follows: 
"Section 48. Prohibited Acts. - No person, firm or corporation shall: 
x 
x 
x 
E) 
IMPORT, SELL OR DISTRIBUTE DOUBLE-DEAD 
MEAT OR "BOTCHA", OR MEJ;\.T WITH FOOD AND 
MOUTH 
DISEASE 
(FMD) 
VIl~US OR 
ANY 
ILL-
QUARANTINED MEAT OR MEAT-PRODUCTS." 
SECTION 2. Chapter XIV of the same Act entitled "Penalties and Sanctions" is likewise 
hereby amended by adding the following sections to read as follows: 
• 
"SECTION 59. CRIMINAL LIABILITY. -
ANY PERSON/S, 
FIRM OR CORPORATION FOUND TO HAVE VIOLATED ANY OF 
THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ACT SHALL BE SUBJECT TO 
IMPRISONMENT FOR A PERIOD OF NOT LESS THAN THIRTY (30) 
DAYS BUT NOT EXCEEDING SIX (6) MONTHS AND A FINE OF NOT 
LESS THAN ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND PESOS (PIOO,OOO.OO) BUT 
NOT EXCEEDING ONE MILLION PESOS (Pl,OOO,OOO.OO). 
IF THE 
VIOLATOR IS A FIRM, CORPORATION, OR ANY JURIDICAL 
ENTITY, INCLUDING THOSE WHICH REFRESENT THEMSELVES 
AS SUCH, THE PENALTY SHALL BE IMPOSED UPON ANY PERSON 
OR OFFICER THEREOF WHO KNOWS 'OR OUGHT TO HAVE 
KNOWN THE COMMISSION OR EXISTENCE OF THE VIOLATION 
2 


OF THIS ACT. ANY PERSON/S, FIRM OR CORPORATION WHO 
ASSIST, COOPERATE OR CONSPIRE IN THE COMMISSION OF 
ACTS IN VIOLATION OF THIS ACT AS HEREIN ENUMERATED 
SHALL BE SUBJECT TO THE GRADUATED PENALTIES BASED ON 
THE 
AFOREMENTIONED 
PENALTIES 
TAKING 
IN 
CONSIDERATION THEIR PARTICIPATION AND CULPABILITY 
ACCORDING 
TO 
THE 
REVISED· PENAL 
CODE 
TO 
BE 
DETERMINED BY A COURT OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION. 
SECTION 60. AUTOMATIC REVOCATION OF LICENCE TO 
OPERATE 
BUSINESS. 
THE 
SECRETARY 
IS 
HEREBY 
AUTHORIZED TO REVOKE ANY LICENSE TO OPERATE BUSINESS 
AFTER PROPER NOTICE AND HEARING WHICH SHALL BE 
SUMMARY 
IN 
NATURE, 
OF 
ANY 
PERSON/S, 
FIRM 
OR 
CORPORATION FOUND TO HAVE VIOLATED ANY OF THE 
PROVISIONS OF THIS ACT." 
SECTION 3. Separability Clause. If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision:not otherwise affected shall remain valid 
and subsisting. 
SECTION 4. Repealiug Clause. Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive order, 
letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to or inconsistent with the 
provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended accordingly. 
I 
SECTION 5. Effectivity Clause. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days from the date 
of the completion of its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of 
general circulation. 
'. 
Approved, 
3