Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Quezon City 1.6 JUL 2013

[ou Pr

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

H.No.__1554

Introduced by Representative Estrellita "Ging" B. Suansing

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to prohibit the slaughter of carabaos of certain ages, amending
for the purpose Republic Act No. 8485, which is also known as “The Animal Welfare
Act of 1998". The objective of the bill is to allow or grant exemption to the slaughter
of carabaos and buffalos at certain ages, seven (7) years old or over, if male and
eleven (11) years old or over, if female. This is in light of the fact that when said
animals are already of age, their marketability change as well. They are not as
prolific in producing milk and in giving birth anymore. Also, the quality of their meat
decreases, resulting in reduced profitability. Hence, the owners may see them as
liabilities than assets,

Moreover, the bill likewise seeks to allow or grant exemption to the slaughter
of carabaos and buffalos by integrating the circumstance “if they are raised or
produced in commercial quantity, not as work animals." This circumstance was not
included in the erstwhile R.A. No. 8485, thus, due to the change in modern
conditions such as increase in population, the slaughter of concerned animals for
meat processing and public consumption should be allowed

Worthy of noting is that the bill pursuant to the tenor of R.A. No. 8485, the
legislative intent of promoting animal welfare in the country, and the international
movement for the prevention of cruelty to animals, mandates that slaughter can take
place only upon issuance of the necessary permit from the authorities concerned

The permit cannot be issued without a certificate from the provincial or city
veterinarian concerned, or their authorized representative, to the effect that the
carabao or buffalo to be slaughtered is of the required age, free from any disease or
falls under any of the circumstances provided by R.A. No. 8485.

Ultimately, the objective of the bill is to incorporate an event that is brought
about by society's changing conditions; and does not in any way hamper or restrict
the movement for the protection and safety of animal welfare.



Thus, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought as it will work together and
not contravene with the ‘animal welfare programs’ of the government

To reiterate, immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

Rep. E LLITA “GING” B. BUANSING

1® District, Nueva Ecija


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

H. No.__455q

Introduced by Representative Estrellita “Ging” B. Suansing

AN ACT
PROHIBITING THE SLAUGHTER OF CARABAOS AT CERTAIN AGES,
AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8485, OTHERWISE
KNOWN AS “THE ANIMAL WELFARE ACT OF 1998"

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

SECTION 1. Section 6 of Republic Act No. 8485, otherwise known as “The
Animal Welfare Act of 1998", is hereby amended to read as follows:

“SEC. 6. It shall be unlawful for any person to torture any animal,
to neglect to provide adequate care, sustenance or shelter, or maltreat
any animal or to subject any dog or horse to dogfights or horsefights, kill
or cause or procure to be tortured or deprived of adequate care,
sustenance or shelter, or maltreat or use the same in research or
experiments not expressly authorized by the Committee on Animal
Welfare.

“THE SLAUGHTER OF CARABAOS AND BUFFALO IS
PROHIBITED EXCEPT UNDER THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS:

“(A) ONLY CARABAOS AND BUFFALO THAT ARE SEVEN (7)
YEARS OLD OR OVER, IF MALE, AND ELEVEN (11) YEARS OLD OR
OVER, IF FEMALE, MAY BE SLAUGHTERED UPON ISSUANCE OF
THE NECESSARY SLAUGHTER PERMIT BY THE AUTHORITIES
CONCERNED; AND

“(B) NO SLAUGHTER PERMIT SHALL BE ISSUED WITHOUT A
CERTIFICATE BY THE PROVINCIAL OR CITY VETERINARIAN
CONCERNED, OR THEIR AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE, TO
THE EFFECT THAT THE CARABAO OR BUFFALO TO BE
SLAUGHTERED IS OF THE REQUIRED AGE AND FREE FROM ANY
DISEASE.


“The killing of CARABAOS AND BUFFALO AS PROVIDED
HEREIN OR any animal other than [cattle,] COWS, pigs, goats, sheep,
poultry, rabbits, [carabaos,] horses, deer and crocodiles is likewise
hereby declared unlawful except in the following instances:

“(1) WHEN THE CARABAOS OR BUFFALO ARE RAISED IN
COMMERCIAL QUANTITY, NOT AS WORK ANIMALS, BUT FOR
MEAT OR PROCESSING;

“[(1)\(2) When it is done as part of the religious rituals of an
established religion or sect or a ritual required by tribal or ethnic custom
of indigenous cultural communities; however, leaders shall keep
records in cooperation with the Committee on Animal Welfare;

“{2\(3) When the [pet] animal is afflicted with an incurable
communicable disease as determined and certified by a duly licensed
veterinarian;

“[3](4) When the killing is deemed necessary to put an end to the
misery suffered by the animal as determined and certified by a duly
licensed veterinarian;

“[41(5) When it is done to prevent an imminent danger to the life
or limb of a human being; [and]

“{(5) When done for the purpose of animal population control]

“(6) When the animal is killed after it has been used in authorized
research or experiments; and

“(7) Any other ground analogous to the foregoing as determined
and certified by a licensed veterinarian.

“In all the above mentioned cases, including those of [cattle]
COWS, pigs, goats, sheep, poultry, rabbits, carabaos, BUFFALO,
horses, deer and crocodiles, the killing of the animals shall be done
through humane procedures at all times.

“For this purpose, humane procedures shall mean the use of the
most scientific methods available as may be determined and approved
by the Committee ON ANIMAL WELFARE.

“Only those procedures approved by the Committee shall be
used in the killing of animals.”

SEC. 2. All existing laws, orders, decrees, rules and regulations or parts
thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified
accordingly.


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

Approved,