SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENYr 
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Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Republic Act No. 8485, known as "The Animal Welfare Act of 1998," established a 
policy of protection and promotion of the welfare of all animals in the Philippines. Though 
commendable, this law does not include adequate measures for the protection of both the animals 
and the community in which they live in, 
In order to encourage the harmonious living of animals and humans, a policy of 
r!lsponsible pet ownership must also be upheld. 
This bill penalizes those who abandon their pets, or those who abandon animals they 
have sideswiped or ran over. It also penalizes pet owners who allow their animals to run wild, 
endangering the community. Finally, it mandates that programs which promote animal welfare 
be established in every city and municipality throughout the country.' 
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MIRIAM DEF~SOR SA1rTliyO 
pJt( 
*' This bill was originally filed in the Fourteenth Congress, Second Regular Session. 


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SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
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JUL 1'5 P 3()5 
SENAY 
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Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
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AN ACT 
AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8485, ALSO KNOWN AS "THE ANIMAL 
WELFARE ACT OF THE PHILIPPINES" 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
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SECTION 1. Section 1 of Republic Act 8485 is hereby amended to read as follows: . 
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"SECTION 1. Tf-ns ACT SHALL BE KNOWN AS THE 'ANIMAL WELFARE 
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AND CONTROL ACT.'" 
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SECTION 2. A new section is hereby inserted after Section 4 of the same Act to read as 
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follows: 
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"SECTION 5. IT SHALL BE UNLAWFUL FOR THE OWNER OF ANY 
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ANIMAL TO ALLOW IT TO RUN AT LARGE UNATTENDED ON OR ABOUT THE 
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STREETS OR ON THE PROPERTY OF ANOTHER WITHOUT SUCH PROPERTY 
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OWNER'S CONSENT. ANY SUCH ANIMAL AT LARGE SHALL BE IMPOUNDED 
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BY THE LOCAL ANIMAL CONTROL AUTHORITIES. 
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IT SHALL BE THE DUTY OF EVERY OWNER OF ANY ANIMAL TO KEEP 
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THE A IMAL UNDER CONTROL AT ALL TIMES WHILE THE ANIMAL IS ON 
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L PROPERTY OF THE OWNER. FOR PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, 
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AL IS DEEMED UNDER CONTROL WHEN IT IS CONFINED BY WAY 
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OF FEN E OR OTHER ENCLOSURE, RESTRAINED BY SUBSTANTIAL CHAIN 
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OR LE SH, RESTRAINED IN SOME OTHER PHYSICAL MANNER BY A 
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COMPE ENT PERSON, OR IS UNDER THE CONTROL OF A COMPETENT 
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PERSON WHO IS PRESENT WITH THE ANIMAL SO THAT THE ANIMAL DOES 
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NOT WANDER OFF THE REAL PROPERTY OF THE OWNER. 
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ALL MALE AND FEMALE DOGS AND CATS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN 
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SPAYED OR NEUTERED MUST BE SECURELY CONFINED IN SUCH A WAY 
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THAT THEY NOT ONLY CANNOT GET OUT TO RUN LOOSE, BUT ALSO 
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CANNOT BE REACHED BY OTHER DOGS OR CATS. 
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IT SHALL BE THE DUTY OF THE OWNER OF ANY ANIMAL TO KEEP 
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THE ANIMAL UNDER CONTROL AT ALL TIMES WHILE THE ANIMAL IS 
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OUTSIDE THE REAL PROPERTY LIMITS OF THE OWNER. FOR THE PURPOSES 
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OF THIS SECTION, AN ANIMAL IS DEEMED UNDER CONTROL WHEN IT IS 
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CONFINED WITHIN A VEHICLE, PARKED OR IN MOTION, IS SECURED BY A 
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LEASH OR OTHER DEVICE HELD BY A COMPETENT PERSON, OR IS 
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PROPERLY CONFINED WITHIN AN ENCLOSURE WITH PERMISSION OF THE 
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OWNER OF THE PROPERTY WHERE THE ENCLOSURE IS LOCATED." 
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SECTION 3. Section 5 ofthe same Act is hereby renumbered as Section 6. 
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SECTION 4. A new section is hereby inserted after Section 5 of the same Act to read as 
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follows: 
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"SECTION 7. 
THE COMMITTEE SHALL DRAW UP GUIDELINES FOR 
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THE ESTABLISHMENT OF ANIMAL SHELTERS. 
EVERY CITY AND 
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MUNICIPALITY IS ENCOURAGED TO ESTABLISH AT LEAST ONE ANIMAL 
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SHELTER WITHIN THEIR VICINTY. 
IN THE MEANTIME THAT NO ANIMAL 
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SHELTER HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED, A PLAN FOR THE PROTECTION AND 
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ADOPTION OF LOST AND STRAY ANIMALS SHALL BE FORMULA TED BY 
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TI-IE COMMITTEE ON ANIMAL WELFARE IN COORDINATION WITH THE 
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DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT (DILG). 
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IN SUPPORT OF THESE OBJECTIVES, THE COMMITTEE SHALL 
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ESTABLISH PROGRAMS FOR THE TRAINING OF ALL ANIMAL CONTROL 
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OFFICERS INSTRUCTING THEM IN THE PROPER OPERATION· OF ANIMAL 
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SHELTERS AND THE HUMANE TREATMENT OF LOST AND STRAY 
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ANIMALS." 
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SECTION 5. Section 6 of the same Act is hereby renumbered as Section 8. 
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SECTION 6. Section 7 of the same Act is hereby renumbered as Section 9. 
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SECTION 7. A new section is hereby inserted after Section 7 of the same Act to read as 
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follows: 
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"SECTION 10. IT SHALL BE UNLAWFUL FOR ANY PERSON WHO HAS 
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CUSTODY OF AN ANIMAL TO ABANDON THE ANIMAL. 
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IF ANY PERSON BEING THE OWNER OR HAVING CHARGE OR 
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CONTROL OF ANY ANIMAL SHALL WITHOUT REASONABLE CAUSE OR 
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EXCUSE ABANDON IT, WHETHER PERMANENTLY OR NOT, WITHOUT 
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PROVIDING FOR TI-IE CARE OF THAT ANIMAL, SUCH ACT SHALL 
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CONSITUTE MALTREATMENT UNDER SECTION 8. 
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IF THE ANIMAL IS LEFT IN CIRCUMSTANCES LIKELY TO CAUSE THE 
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ANIMAL ANY UNNECESSARY SUFFERING, OR IF TI-IIS ABANDONMENT 
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RESULTS IN THE DEATH OF THE ANIMAL, THE PERSON LIABLE SHALL 
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SUFFER THE MAXIMUM PENALTY. 
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ABANDONMENT MEANS THE RELINQUISHMENT OF ALL RIGHT, 
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TITLE, CLAIM, OR POSSESSION OF THE ANIMAL WITH THE INTENTION OF 
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NOT RECLAIMING IT OR RESUMING ITS OWNERSHIP OR POSSESSION." 
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SECTION 8. A new section is hereby inselied after the section above to read as follows: 
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"SECTION II. IF A DRIVER OF A MOTOR VEI-IICLE OR OTHER SELF-
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PROPELLED VEI-IICLE 
SHALL 
STRIKE AND 
INJURE OR KILL ANY 
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DOMESTICA TED ANIMAL, SUCI-I DRIVER SHALL GIVE REASONABLE AID 
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AND ASSISTANCE AND/OR PROTECTION TO SUCH ANIMAL, WITHOUT 
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PLACING HIMSELF OR HERSELF AT UNREASONABLE RISK, AND CALL AND 
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REPORT THE FACTS PERTAINING TO THE INCIDENT TO EITHER OF THE 
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FOLLOWING AUTHORITIES: 
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1. BARANGA Y OFFICIALS; OR 
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2. TI-IE POLICE AGENCY HAVING JURISDICTION IN THE AREA 
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WHERE THE ANIMAL IS STRUCK. 
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AFTER MAKING THE REPORT REQUIRED ABOVE, TI-IE DRIVER SHALL 
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COMPLY WITI-I THE INSTRUCTIONS GIVEN BY THE AGENCY CONTACTED 
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AND SHALL, IF INSTRUCTED, REMAIN AT THE SCENE UNTIL APPROPRIATE 
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POLICE OR ANIMAL CONTROL AUTHORITY ARRIVES. AFTER ARRIVAL OF 
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APPROPRIATE AUTHORITY, TI-IE DRIVER SHALL COOPERATE WITH SUCH 
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AUTHORITY IN THE INVESTIGATION AND REPORTING OF THE INCIDENT. 
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AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO COMPLYING WITH THE REQUIREMENTS SET 
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FORTH ABOVE, TI-IE MOTOR VEHICLE DRIVER MAY TRANSPORT THE 
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ANIMAL WHICH HAS BEEN STRUCK TO THE CITY OR MUNICIPALITY'S 
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ANIMAL fACILITY, OR, IN THE CASE OF AN ANIMAL WI-lICH IS INJURED 
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AND NOT DEAD, TO A VETERINARIAN FOR TREATMENT OF THE ANIMAL'S 
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INJURIES. IF THE DRIVER CHOOSES THE LATTER COURSE OF ACTION, 
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HE/SHE SHALL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COST OF TREATMENT IF 
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REQUIRED BY THE VETERINARIAN. 
FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH ANY OF 
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TI-IE 
REQUIREMENTS 
IN 
TI-IIS 
SECTION 
SHALL 
CONSTITUTE 
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ABANDONMENT OF THE ANIMAL UNDER SECTION 8. 
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THIS SECTION SHALL NOT APPLY TO DRIVERS OF EMERGENCY 
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VEHICLES IF SUCI-I VEHICLES ARE BEING OPERATED IN RESPONSE TO A 
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BONA FIDE EMERGENCY SITUATION AT THE TIME THE ANIMAL IS STRUCK. 
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EMERGENCY VEHICLE OPERATORS WHO STRIKE AN ANIMAL DURING A 
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RESPONSE TO A BONA FIDE EMERGENCY SITUATION SHALL NOTIFY THE 
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AUTHORITIES MENTIONED ABOVE OF THE INCIDENT AS SOON AS IS 
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PRACTICABLE THEREAFTER." 
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SECTION 9. Section 8 of the same Act is herehy renumbered as Section 12. 
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SECTION 10. 
A new section is hereby inserted after the section above to read as 
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follows: 
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"SECTION 13. 
APPROPRIATIONS. ~ THE AMOUNT NECESSARY FOR 
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THE INITIAL IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS ACT SHALL BE CHARGED 
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AGAINST THE APPROPRIATIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
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THEREAFTER, SUCH SUM AS MAYBE NECESSARY FOR ITS FULL 
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IMPLEMENTATION SHALL BE INCLUDED IN THE ANNUAL GENERAL 
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APPROPRIATIONS ACT AS A DISTINCT AND SEPARATE ITEM." 
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SECTION 11. Section 9 of the same Act is hereby renumbered as Section 14. 
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SECTION 12. Section 10 of the same Act is hereby renumbered as Section 15. 
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SECTION 13. Separability Clause. ~ If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or 
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unconstitutional, the remainder of the Act or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain 
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valid and subsisting. 
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SECTION 14. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
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order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to or inconsistent 
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with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified, or amended accordingly. 
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SECTION 15. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
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publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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