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FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
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OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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First Regular Session 
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Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
A pet is an animal kept for companionship and enjoyment or a household animal, 
as opposed to livestock, laboratory animals, working animals or sport animals, which are 
kept for economic reasons, Pets however, provide their owners with other benefits: to 
relieve stress, provide companionship and security, In fact, there is now a medically-
approved class of "therapy animals," mostly dogs that are brought to visit confined 
humans, A recent study concluded that owning a pet can reduce the risk of a heart attack 
by 2% and that pets are better than medication in reducing blood pressure, Pets have the 
ability to stimulate their caregivers, in particular the elderly, giving people someone to 
take care of, someone to exercise with, and someone to help them heal from a physically 
or psychologically troubled past. Finally, caring for pets teaches children how to be 
responsible and gentle with beings that are weaker than them, 
Many households have pets, In the U,S", around 63 percent of all households 
(71.1 million) are pet owners, In the Philippines many households have more than one 
animaL 
Unfortunately, despite the love for their pets, many owners have been lax, and 
sometimes negligent, in the care of their animals, Many owners are working individuals 
who have little time to take their pets to the veterinarians for regular check-ups, 
This Act aims to create a special non-working holiday to increase public 
awareness of the concept of pet care, ensure meaningful observance of the same, allow 
pet owners the opportunity to take their pets for a check-up, and encourage participation 
in activities that are to be spearheaded by the Bureau of Animal Industry of the 
Department of Agriculture and the various govemment offices concerned, 
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Francis of Assisi is honored by the Catholic Church as the patron saint of animals 
and ecology. Every year on the Sunday nearest his October 4 feast day, Catholic and 
other Christian churches around the world host services where animals are blessed. 
These services celebrate Francis's compassionate concern for all creatures. It is proposed 
that Naiional Pet day be celebrated every 4th of October.! 
, This bill was originally filed in the third regular session of the 14'h Congress. 
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FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
S F,.N llro5 
S. No. -='-=---=-
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W ,R 21 P5:01 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
DECLARING OCTOBER 4 OF EVERY YEAR AS A SPECIAL 
WORKING HOLIDAY TO BE KNOWN AS NATIONAL PET DAY 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
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SECTION I. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "National Pet Day 
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Act." 
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SECTION 2. Special Non-Working Holiday. - In recognition of the need to 
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establish a comprehensive national consciousness of pet care, the fourth day of October is 
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hereby declared as a special non-working holiday to be known as "National Pet Day". 
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SECTION 3. Activities that shall be undertaken in observance of this occasion. -
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(a) The Philippine Infonnation Agency shall be mandated to allocate a minimum 
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of one (1) hour airtime for programs exclusively raising public awareness of pet care, 
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animal welfare and animal rights. Relative thereto, all Kapisanan ng mga Broadkaster 
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ng Pilipinas-affiliated television and radio networks nationwide are encouraged to 
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allocate airtime for said programs. 
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(b) The Bureau of Animal Industry of the Dept. of Agriculture, the Department of 
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Education, the Commission on Higher Education, shall lead public and private school 
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communities at all levels in organizing consciousness-raising activities on pet care, 
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animal welfare and animal rights human rights. Their activities shall be in coordination 
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with nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and advocates for animal welfare 
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including the following: 
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a. 
Philippine Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PSPCA); 
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b. Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS); 
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c. 
Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau (PA WB) of the Department of 
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Environment and Natural Resources (DENR); 
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d. 
Philippine Veterinary Medical Association (PVMA); 
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e. Veterinary Practitioners Association of the Philippines (VP AP); 
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f. 
Philippine Animal Hospital Association of the Philippines (PARA); 
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g. Philippine Canine Club, Inc. (PCCI). 
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The Bureau of Animal Industry ofthe Dept. of Agriculture, within sixty (60) days 
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from the effectivity of this Act, shall promulgate rules and regulations to carry out and 
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enforce the provisions of this Act. 
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SECTION 4. Appropriations. -
The amount necessary for the initial 
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implementation of this Act shall be charged against the appropriations of the Department 
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of Agriculture. Thereafter, such sum as may be necessary for its full implementation shall 
IS 
be included in the annual General Appropriations Act as a distinct and separate item. 
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SECTION 5. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof, is held invalid 
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or unconstitutional, the remainder of the Act or the provision not otherwise affected shaH 
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remain valid and subsisting. 
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SECTION 6. Repealing Clause. -
Any law, presidential decree or issuance, 
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executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to, 
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or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended 
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accordingly. 
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SECTION 7. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shaH take effect fifteen (15) days 
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after its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
lacs 
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