Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Constitution Hills, Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

4311

House Bill No.

Introduced by: REPRESENTATIVE ERIC L. OLIVAREZ

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Philippines stands out as East Asia's biggest dog owner,
with six times the 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 workers 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/or 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 of facilities for their dogs, it is quite inconvenient to
bring these animals with them although they badly want to.

Pet dogs serve good purpose to their masters and there are
more than acceptable reasons and justifications 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 their 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 Filipinos, it is but proper to mandate the
management of these shopping malls to 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 bill seeks 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. Filipinos being natural pet lovers would surely benefit
from the approval of this bill. It is for this reason that its approval
is hereby being sought.

eu — oO”,

ERIC OLIVAREZ


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Constitution Hills, Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

4311

House Bill No.

Introduced by: REPRESENTATIVE ERIC L. OLIVAREZ

AN ACT REQUIRING 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 dogs 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 dog 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 pet owners who wish to leave
their dogs in the said dog station. The facilities, the area size,
the number of hours the canines shall be confined in the
station, and the quality and variety of 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) in
coordination with the Local Government Units (LGUs) 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 a 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 after its complete publication in at least three (3)
newspapers of general circulation.

APPROVED.