Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS.
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. _537 2

INTRODUCED BY ANAKPAWIS PARTY-LIST REPRESENTATIVE ~*
RAFAEL V. MARIANO

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Philippines is an agricultural country and majority of Filipirus
depend on farming and/or animal raising/ production as source of their
livelihood. Animal raising/production includes the raising/ production of
catile, carabao, goat, hog, chicken and duck, backyard or commercial. From
2001-2010, the country’s average annual production of carabao has reached
135.82 thousand metric tons while average annual production of cattle has
reached 249.41 thousand metric tons. For the same period, hog has an
average annual production of 1,782.04 thousand metric tons and goat has
76.05 thousand metric tons. Chicken, on the other hand, has an average
annual production of 1,226.17 thousand metric tons for the aforesaid pericd
while duck has 46.07 thousand metric tons. (Bureau of Agricultural Statistics
(BAS)

On the other hand, the number of farm animals, from Cordillera
Administrative Region (CAR) to Tawi-tawi, in backyard and commercial
farms has been recorded in the following manner:

Type of animals Backyard Commercial i
(no. of heads) (no. of heads)
L fas of July 21,2011) _ (as of July 1, 2011) '
7 Carabao 2,991,767 11,823 2
i Cattle _ 2,323,567 _ 169,907
: Goat 3,688,643 65,945,
L Duck 7,416,068 2,648,315 |
‘ Hogs 8,034,626 4,156,740 7
Source: Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS}

! Type of Animal ~ No. of heads ~ :
_ fas of July 1 2011) !
: broiler : 58,071,703 _ _
: layers H 30,453,363 7
L native 76,678,717

at
‘Source: Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (HAS)

Most of farms, backyard or commercial, for animal raising/production.
can be found in rural or far-flung areas in the country. However, despite th:
Auge production and number of animals in the country, there is minimal, :1
not lack, of veterinary services in these areas since appointment of =



exerinarian officer is only mandatory in provincial and city government:
Republic Act No, 7160 otherwise known as “The Local Government Code ut
19917 has made it optional for municipal governments to appoint «
veterinarian officer.

Since the appointment of @ veterinarian officer in muniip
nernmients is optional, not every municipality in the country has
vererinanan officer. Beeatise of this. most of animal raisers. especially thos
exgaged im backyard animal raising, were deprived of velennary services fu
essons that they cannot afford the seraces of private veterinarians due
poverty or there is no veterinanan, private or public, in the area at all. The

<u] have lo wait for the provincial or city veterinarian officer to come atic:
render velennary services to their area. Sadly, the visit of provincial or
veterinarian olficer cannot be determined with certainty

As a consequence of minimal, if not lack, of veterinary services
backyard animal raisers, tend to apply traditional medicines in treating
animal diseases. Although traditional medications can cure animal illnesses
there is no guarantee that the diseases will be treated completely and the:
transmission to other animals will be immediately prevented. It is a fact the:
there are animal diseases that need the immediate attention of a
vererinarian

Moreover, the improper or inability in ueating animal diseases ma
affect the production of animals which, in tum, will lessen the supply uv
livestock and poultry products in the market to the detriment of the public
Another. some animal diseases, if not weated completely or properly, mig
be transmitted to the people. These diseases include cat scratch disease
mad cow disease, brucellosis and many more.

The mandatory appointment of veterinarian officer in municip
go\emnments, with proper support, can prevent and immediately address th:
problem of proliferation of dreaded animal diseases in the countryside sine:
vererinary services will be within reach of the people. There will also b:
immediate dehvery of veterinary services in far-flung barangays in th-
country wherein the production of farm animals is concentrated

This measure also aims to expand the functions and duties of .
veterinarian officer to enable those in the far-flung areas to avail ¢
veterinary-related services, local and national.

In view of the foregoing, the early passage of this bill is urgent
sought

"‘AEL V,


1

Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon Cry

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

a. 5372

HOUSE BILL NO.

INTRODUCED BY ANAKPAWIS PARTY-LIST REPRESENTATIVE
RAFAEL V. MARIANO

AN ACT
AMENDING CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7160
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS “AN ACT PROVIDING FOR A LOCAL
GOVERNMENT CODE OF 1991” AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Be it enacted by the Senate und House of Representatives of the
Pritippines in Congress assembled.

SECTION 1. Section 443 of Republic Act No. 7160 is hereby amended
to read as follows:

“Section 443. Officials of the Municipal Government. - (a) There
shall be in each municipality a municipal mayor, a municipal vice-
mayor, sangguniang bayan members, a secretary to the sanggumiang
bayan, a municipal treasurer. a municipal assessor, a municipal
accountant, a municipal budget officer, a municipal planning :nd
development coordinator, a municipal engineer/building officia. a
municipal health officer, A MUNICIPAL VETERINARIAN and a
municipal civil registrar.

xx’

SECTION 2. Section 489 of Republic Act No. 7160 is hereby amencied
to read as follows:

“Section 489. Qualifications, Powers and Duties. - (aj No person s*all
be appomted veterinarian unless he is a citizen of the Philippines, (a resicent
of the local government concerned,] of goud moral character, and a licensed
doctor of veterinary medicine. He must have practiced his profession for at
Jeast three (3) years in the case of provincial or city veterinarian and at least
one (1) year in the case of the municipal veterinarian.

The appointment of a veterinarian officer is mandatory for the
provincial, [and] city AND MUNICIPAL governments.

(b) The veterinarian shall take charge of the office for vetennury
services and shall:


wr

(Ji Formulate measures for the consideration of thy
sangguman, and provide technical assistance and support to te
governor or mayor, as the case may be, in carrying out measures
ensure the delivery of basic services and provision of adeq
tacilities pursuant to Section 17 of this Code,

(2) Devetop plans and strategies and upon approval there:
the governor or mayor. as the case may be, implement che sa
particularly those which have to do with the veterinary-rei
acuvities which the governor or mayor is empowered to umplemer
and which the sanggunian is empowered to provide for under this
Code,

13] In addiuon tw the foregoing duties and funetions. =
veterinarian shall

Advise the governor or the mayor, as the case may
be, on all matters pertaining to the slaughter of animals
for human consumption and the regulation o°
slaughterhouses;

Gi) Regulate the keeping of domestic animals

(iii) Regulate and inspect poultry, milk and dair.
products for public consumption;

(iv) Enforce all laws and regulations for the prevenuo-.
of cruelty to animals; [and]

{v) Take the necessary measures to eradicate, prevent c:
cure all forms of animal diseases; AND

{V1) VISIT AND RENDER VETERINARY SERVICES, AT

LEAST ONCE A WEEK, TO EVERY BARANGAY OF
THE CITY OR MUNICIPALITY WHERE THEY ARE
APPOINTED. PROVINCIAL VETERINARIANS SHALI.
COORDINATE WITH CITY AND MUNICIPAL
VETERINARIANS REGARDING THE CONDUCT AND
IMPLEMENTATION OF VETERINARY SERVICES
WITHIN THEIR AREA OF JURISDICTION;

i4) Be in the frontline of veterinary related activities, such as in
the outbreak of highly-contagious and deadly diseases, and 1
situations resulting in the depletion of animals for work and humar
consumption, particularly those arising from and in the aftermath o
mun-made and natural calamuties and disasters;

(5) Recommend w the sanggunian and advise the governor or
mayor, as the case may be, on all other matters relative to veterinars
services which will increase the number and improve the quality 0:
livestock, poultry and other domestic animals used for work o:
human consumption; [and]



{6} RECOMMEND TO THE SANGGUNIAN AND ADVISE THE
GOVERNOR OR MAYOR, AS THE CASE MAY BE, TO SEEK
FINANCIAL, TECHNICAL AND OTHER FORM OF ASSISTANCE
FROM NATIONAL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND INSTITUTIONS
FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF VETERINARY-RELATED
NATIONAL PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES IN THE LOCAL
GOVERNMENT UNIT CONCERNED;

(7) ASSIST THE GOVERNOR OR MAYOR, AS THE CASE MAY
BE, IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF VETERINARY-RELATED
NATIONAL PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES IN THE LOCAL
GOVERNMENT UNIT CONCERNED; AND

(c] Exercise such other powers and perform such other duties anc
fanctions as may be prescribed by law or ordinance.”

SECTION 3. Repealing Clause. -Ali laws, executive orders, executive
issuances or letter of instructions, or any part thereof, inconsistent with or
contrary to the provisions of this Act are hereby deemed repealed, amended
or modified accordingly

SECTION 4, Separability Clause. -If for any reason any section c>
provision of this act shall be declared unconstitutional or invalid, the other
parts thereof not affected thereby shall remain valid

SECTION 5, Effectivity Clause. -This Act shall take effect fifteen 115)
days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) nationad
newspapers of general circulation.

Approved.