Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

15" CONGRESS,
First Regular Session

98

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by REP. SALVADOR H. ESCUDERO III

EXPLANATORY NOTE.

Prior to the enactment of the Animal Welfare Act of 1998 (RA 8485), the slaughter of
carabaos of a certain age was prohibited under Executive Order No. 626 which was
promulgated by then-President Ferdinand E. Marcos. In 2001, the Bureau of Animal Industry
(BAD, thru Memorandum Order No. 3 declared E.O. 626 to have been revoked by RA 8485
and therefore allowed “the slaughter of carabao at any age provided that humane slaughter as
embodied [in RA 8485] is undertaken”

In the explanatory provisions of EO 626, it was stated that the ban on the slaughter of
carabaos was implemented because conditions then demanded “that the carabao and the
buffalo be conserved for the benefit of the small farmers who rely on them for energy needs”
The same may now be said in these times.

As gas and crude oil prices continue to skyrocket, the use of fuel-guzzling mechanical
farm tractors is no longer feasible for our small farmers. Utilizing the carabao’s energy in
tilling the fields presents a practical alternative and a long-term solution. Clearly, current
conditions are once again calling for the conservation of the Filipino farmer's beast of burden.
To continue propagating the species, the probibition against its indiscriminate slaughter must
be reinstated in our laws. In fact, the need to preserve and increase meat, milk and work
animals is much more urgent now

In view of the foregoing. approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

Wiewee Ka
SAL) RH. ESCUDERO III

Representative
1* District, Sorsogon


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

15™ CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House BLL No, 21 38

Introduced by REP. SALVADOR H. ESCUDERO III

AN ACT
PROHIBITING THE SLAUGHTER OF CARABAOS AT CERTAIN AGES AND
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 |, Section 6 of Republic Act No. 8485, otherwise known as the Animal

Welfare Act of 1998, is hereby amended to read as follows:

ec.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.

aM ONLY CARABAOS AND BUFFALO THAT ARE SEVEN
YEARS OLD OR OVER, IF MALE, AND ELEVEN YEARS

OLD OR OVER, IF FEMALE, MAY BE SLAUGHTERED


UPON ISSUANCE OF THE NECESSARY SLAUGHTER
PERMIT BY THE AUTHORITIES CONCERNED:

(2) 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 any animal other than [cattle] COWS, pigs. goats, sheep.

poultry, rabbits, carabaos AND BUFFALO AS PROVIDED HEREIN, horses.
deer, and crocodiles is likewise hereby declared unlawful except in the
following instances:

(1) 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 ion cooperation with the Committee on Animal Welfare:

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

(3) 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;

(4) 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:]


When the animal is killed after it has been used in authorized
research or experiments; and
(6) Any other ground analogous to the foregoing as determined and
certified by a licensed veterinarian.
In the above mentioned cases, including those of cattle, 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,