Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
SECOND REGULAR SESSION

House Bill No 8173

INTRODUCED BY Rep. GREG G. GASATAYA

EXPLANATORY NOTE

One of the functions of the Philippine legislative body is to provide for the right to life and liberty
of all beings within its jurisdiction. Hence, the Animal Welfare Act of 1998 was enacted to protect all
animals in the Philippines from abuse and ensure humane treatment by regulating all facilities related to
animals and prohibiting and penalizing foul acts against animals.

Through Republic Act 8485, otherwise known as the Animal Welfare Act of 1998, the
Department of Agriculture, despite its existing powers and functions at the time, was given the authority
to regulate and supervise “the establishment, operation and maintenance of pet shops, kennels, veterinary
clinics, veterinary hospitals, stockyards, corrals, stud farms and zoos and any other form or structure for
the confinement of animals where they are bred, treated, maintained, or kept either for sale or trade or for
training purposes as well as the transport of such animals in any form of public or private transportation
facility in order to provide maximum comfort while in transit and minimize, if not totally eradicate,
incidence of sickness and death and prevent any cruelty from being inflicted upon the animals.” This
resulted in the complex functions of the Bureau of Animal Industry whilst the animal industry, especially
the pet industry, continue to develop exponentially as the country’s economy grew and as pet
humanization became an evolving investment opportunity. Consequently, some establishments that deal
with animal companions become regulated with leniency, thus situating animals at risk of mistreatment
and unsanitary and uncomfortable products and facilities.

Given the rapid growth of the pet industry and the emerging opportunities it presents, proactive
steps such as the establishment of a regulating body, which this Bill seeks, is imperative. Such delineation
of powers and functions can prove to be a more efficient way of regulating the pet industry considering its
immensity and the span of control of a single administrative body.

As such, the approval of this Bill is earnestly sought. -

a

REP. GREG G. GASATAYA
Lone District of Bacolod City


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
SECOND REGULAR SESSION

House Bill No. 61°72

INTRODUCED BY Rep. GREG G. GASATAYA

AN ACT
INSTITUTIONALIZING THE REGULATION OF THE PET INDUSTRY, THEREBY
CREATING THE PHILIPPINE PET INDUSTRY REGULATION AGENCY, DEFINING ITS
POWERS AND FUNCTIONS, PROVIDING FOR ITS PERSONNEL, MAKING
APPROPRIATIONS FOR ITS ORGANIZATION AND OPERATION, AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES

SECTION 1. Short Title. — This Act shall be known as the “Philippine Pet Industry Regulation
Act of 2017".

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. — It is the purpose of this Act to protect and promote the
welfare of terrestrial, aquatic, and marine pets in the Philippines by supervising and regulating the
establishment and operations of all facilities utilized for breeding, transport, maintaining, keeping,
treating or training of pets either as objects of trade or as household pets and sale, trade, use, and
importation of pet products. For the purpose of this Act, pets shall include birds.

SECTION 3. Definition of Terms.— For purposes of this Act, the following terms shall refer to
and/or mean as hereunder defined:

(a) Pet — shall refer to any domesticated or tamed animal or bird species kept for companionship
to be identified by the Department of Agriculture.

(b) Pet Products — shall refer to any product used in breeding, transport, maintaining, keeping,
treating or training of pets either as objects of trade or as houschold pets.

(©) Pet Industry — shall refer to the industry of breeding, transport, maintaining, keeping, treating
or training of pets either as objects of trade or as household pets and sale, trade, use, and
importation of pet products. Pet animals shall include birds.

(d) Animal Welfare — shall pertain to the physical and psychological well-being of pets. It
includes, but is not limited to, the avoidance of abuse, maltreatment, cruelty and exploitation
of pets by humans by maintaining appropriate standards of accommodation, feeding and
general care, the prevention and treatment of disease and the assurance of freedom from fear,
distress, harassment, and unnecessary discomfort and pain, and allowing pets to express
normal behavior.



SECTION 4. Creation of the Philippine Pet Industry Regulation Agency. ~ There is hereby
created an agency under the Department of Agriculture to be known as the Philippine Pet Industry
Regulation Agency, to be referred to as PPIRA hereafter, attached to the Department of Agriculture
which shall, subject to the approval of the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, issue the necessary
rules and regulations for the strict implementation of the provisions of Republic Act No. 8485, otherwise
known as the Animal Welfare Act of 1998, as amended, and this Act, including the setting of safety and
sanitary standards in the pet industry. Such guidelines shall be reviewed by the Committee on Animal
Welfare every three (3) years from its implementation or whenever necessary.

SECTION 5. Powers and Functions of the Philippine Pet Industry Regulation Agency.—

The PPIRA shall have the following powers and functior

(a) The PPIRA shall formulate long and short-term programs for the development and expansion
of the pet industry to meet humane pet industry standards and recommend plans, programs, policies,
rules, and regulations consistent with existing rules and regulations subject to the approval of the
Secretary of Agriculture;

(b) Recommend specific policies and procedures governing the pet industry as well as the
preservation of animal welfare in the pet industry and inspection of pet industry conditions;

(©) Coordinate and monitor the activities and projects relating to the pet industry;

(d) Prescribe standards for the quality of service and facilities of establishments concerning the
pet industry;

(f) The following functions of the Secretary of Agriculture are hereby transferred to the PPIRC
President:

(1) Promulgate the guidelines on the criteria and training requirements for the
deputization of animal welfare enforcement officers and;

(2) Establish a mechanism for the supervision, monitoring and reporting of these
enforcement officers.

(3) Deputize along with the Philippine National Police, the National Bureau of
Investigation and other law enforcement agencies animal welfare enforcement officers
from nongovernment organizations, citizens groups, community organizations and other
volunteers who have undergone the necessary training for implementation and
enforcement of the policies, rules, and regulations of the PPIRA, and Republic Act No.
8485, otherwise known as the Animal Welfare Act of 1998, as amended. As such, animal
welfare enforcement officers shall have the authority to seize and rescue illegally traded
and maltreated animals and to arrest violators of provisions Republic Act No. 8485,
otherwise known as the Animal Welfare Act of 1998, as amended, and this Act, subject
to the guidelines of existing laws and rules and regulations on arrest and detention. The
animal welfare enforcement officers shall report to the PPIRA President.


(g) To issue, in accordance with law, licenses or permits for the operation of all facilities utilized
for breeding, transport, maintaining, keeping, treating or training of pets either as objects of trade or as
household pet and the sale, trade, use, and importation of pet products and to suspend or revoke the same
for cause;

(h) To carry out the provisions of the Animal Welfare Act of 1998, as amended, and this Act and
all other laws pertaining to the supervision, and administration of the pet industry and all rules and
regulations promulgated thereunder;

(i) To conduct studies of practice and methods relative to the protection of the pet industry and
disseminate the results and information on appropriate bulletins or circulars;

(j) To collect and disseminate information and conduct investigations concerning the pet industry;
(k) To promote further the development of the pet industry in the Philippines;

() To make arrest without warrant any person committing or attempting to commit an offense
against the provisions of the Animal Welfare Act of 1998 and this Act; and, to make seizures of products
liable to seizure under said Acts or under the provisions of any other law relating to the Animal Welfare
Act of 1998 and this Act. The property seized may be delivered to the nearest municipal treasurer and
held subject to orders of the President or the person acting in his stead;

(m) To administer oaths and take acknowledgment in matters of official business; issue

subpoenas and take testimony in official investigations authorized by law and;

(n) To make investigations concerning the nature, organization and resources of the business of
all persons engaged in the pet industry.

SECTION 6. The President. — Subject to the general supervision and control of the Director of
the Bureau of Animal Industry, the President of the PPIRA shall possess the powers generally conferred
upon bureau chiefs and shall be responsible for the overall supervision and control of the PPIRA and the
execution of its duties and functions. The President shall be either a competent veterinary surgeon or a
man well trained in the animal industry and shall receive compensations to be determined by the
Secretary of Agriculture, The President shall be, upon assuming the position, be part of the Committee on
Animal Welfare.

‘The President shall also, subject to the approval of the Committee on Animal Welfare, organize
its personnel into such divisions or sections as will ensure maximum efficiency and effectiveness.

SECTION 7. Registration. — No person, association, partnership, corporation, cooperative or any
government agency or instrumentality shall establish or operate a pet shop, pet hotel, pet grooming
establishment, or any other facility concerned with pet products and services or shall own a pet/pets
without first securing a permit or registration from the PPIRA. Such registration must be accompanied by
proof of capability to accommodate a pet/pets in a humane manner in accordance with the provisions of
Republic Act No. 8485, otherwise known as the Animal Welfare Act of 1998, as amended.

SECTION 8. Appropriations. — The Secretary of the Department of Agriculture shall
immediately include in the Department's programs the operationalization of the PPIRC office; the
funding of which shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.



SECTION 9. Transitory Provision. — To prevent disruption in the delivery of services pending
the full implementation of the PPIRC’s organizational structure and staffing pattern, all officials and
employees affected by the creation of the PPIRC shall continue to exercise their duties and functions and
receive their salaries and allowances until they shall have been given notice of change of duties and
functions, and of being transferred to another office or position.

SECTION 10. Repealing 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.

SECTION 11. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in
the Official Gazette orin at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

APPROVED,

De ae

REP. GREG G. GASATAYA
Lone District of Bacolod City