Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Constitution Hills, Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No._____ 
________________________________________________________________ 
Introduced by: REPRESENTATIVE EDWIN L. OLIVAREZ 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Philippines stands out as East Asia’s biggest dog owner, with six times 
per-capita number of pets seen in China which is the biggest country in the said part 
of the continent. Statistics from 2009 shows that in the Philippines, there is one pet 
dog for every 8 people. This number continuously rises as remittances from migrant 
worker steadily increases thereby boosting disposable income that affords pet 
spending. 
The number of Filipino pet owners is growing significantly each year. There is 
now close to 9 million households across the country with at least one dog. Clearly, 
pet dogs are becoming part of the Filipino family. Considering the foregoing, it is just 
proper to start launching and supporting campaigns that aim to protect the welfare 
of our pets, more particularly the canines. 
Filipinos love the malls. The public, especially those who reside in urbanized 
cities would frequent shopping malls for many different reasons. A lot of these 
shoppers do own a pet. However, because of lack facilities for their dogs, it is quite 
inconvenient to bring these animals with them although they badly want to. 
Pet dogs served good purpose to their masters and there are more than 
acceptable reasons and justification why pet owners would want to bring them 
around anywhere they go. For one, dogs are a good company and they are considered 
a man’s best friend especially for the elderly and the blind. Second, pet dogs bring 
joy and fun to the family and to other people. Lastly, pet dogs are now being 
considered members of the family here in our country so it is just natural for pet 
owners to want pets to be present in whatever endeavor or activity they try to do. 
Considering that going to the malls is one of the most common activities of 
Filipino, it is but proper to mandate the management of these shopping malls to 
February 7, 2023
3:45 pm
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provide a facility that would temporarily look after and protect the welfare of 
domesticated dogs when the pet owners need to go for a little shopping in the said 
mall. After all, if pet dogs are being considered as man’s best friend or even a member 
of a family, we should allow their owners to have the option to bring with them their 
pet dogs wherever they go to the malls instead of just leaving them in their homes. 
 
 
This bills seek to mandate shopping malls to establish at least one dog station 
therein for the abovementioned purpose. This bill is reflective of our government’s 
support to pro-animal campaigns and projects. Filipino being natural pet lovers 
would surely benefit from the approval of this bill. It is for the reason that its approval 
is hereby being sought. 
 
 
EDWIN L. OLIVAREZ 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Constitution Hills, Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No._____ 
________________________________________________________________ 
Introduced by: REPRESENTATIVE EDWIN L. OLIVAREZ 
AN ACT REQIURING EVERY SHOPPING MALL SITUATED 
AT URBANIZED CITIES IN THE COUNTRY 
TO PROVIDE FOR A DOG STATION 
SECTION 1. Short Title. This Act shall be known as the “Dog Stations in 
Shopping Malls Act”. 
SECTION 2. Coverage. This Act shall apply to all shopping malls situated at 
urbanized cities nationwide. 
SECTION 3. Establishment of Dog Stations in Existing Shopping Malls. 
Every shopping mall, regardless of size and income, which are situated at urbanized 
cities in the country shall be required to provide and/or establish at least one dog 
station where the shoppers and/or the public going to the said malls can leave their 
pet dog as they roam the mall premises. 
SECTION 4. Establishment of Dog Stations in Shopping Malls Yet to be 
Constructed. A plan for the construction of shopping malls in urbanized cities in 
the country shall include a provision for at least one station. Failure to include the 
same in the construction plan shall call for the disapproval of the permit to build 
said mall. 
SECTION 5. Personnel. The management of the shopping mall shall be in 
charge of hiring qualified personnel to man the dog station and oversee the welfare 
of the said canine pets. 
SECTION 6. Charges. The management may collect reasonable fees or 
charges from the pet owners who wish to leave their dogs in the said dog station. The 
facilities, the area size the number of house the canines shall be confined in the 
station, and the quality and variety or services offered by the dog station may be 
factored in when [pegging the amount to be collected by the management from the 
pet owners. 
SECTION 7. Implementing guidelines – The Department of Interior and 
Local Government (DILG) on coordination with the Local Government Units (LGUs) 
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and the Department of Health (DOH) shall issue the implementing guidelines for the 
enforcement of this Act. 
 
 
SECTION 8. Repealing Clause. – All laws, presidential decrees, letters of 
instructions, executive orders, rules and regulations insofar as they are inconsistent 
with this Act, are hereby repealed or amended as the case may be. 
 
 
SECTION 9. Separability Clause. – In the event that any provision of this 
Act or any portion thereof is declared unconstitutional by the competent court, the 
other provisions shall not be affected thereby and shall remain valid and enforceable. 
 
 
SECTION 10. Effectivity Clause. – This Act shall take effect its complete 
publication in at least three (3) newspaper of general circulation. 
 
 
APPROVED.