© 1.2AU6 2013

Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Quezon City

16'" CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 2375

Introduced by REP. EVELINA G, ESCUDERO.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Prior to the enactment of the Animal Welfare Act of 1998 (RA 8485), the slaughter of
carabaos of a certain age was prohibited under Executive Order No. 626 which was promulgated
by then-President Ferdinand E. Marcos, In 2001, the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAD, thru
Memorandum Order No. 3 declared B.0. 626 to have been revoked by RA 8485 and therefore
allowed “the slaughter of carabao at any age provided that humane slaughter as embodied [in RA
8485] is undertaken”.

In the explanatory provisions of EO 626, it was stated that the ban on the slaughter of
carabaos was implemented because conditions then demanded “that the carabao and the buffalo
be conserved for the benefit of the small farmers who rely on them for energy needs”. The same
may now be said in these times,

As gas and crude oil prices continue to skyrocket, the use of fuel-guzzling mechanical
farm tractors is no longer feasible for our small farmers. Utilizing the carabao’s energy in tilling
the fields presents a practical alternative and a long-term solution. Clearly, current conditions
are once again calling for the conservation of the Filipino farmer's beast of burden, To continue
propagating the species, the prohibition against its indiscriminate slaughter must be reinstated in
our laws. In fact, the need to preserve and increase meat, milk and work animals is much more
urgent now.

In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is eamestly sought.



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

16" CONGR
First Regular Session

2375

HOUSE BILL

Introduced by REP. EVELINA G. ESCUDERO

AN ACT PROHIBITING THE SLAUGHTER OF CARABAOS AT CERTAIN AGE!
AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8485, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS.
“THE ANIMAL WELFARE ACT OF 1998”

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled:

SECTION 1. Section 6 of Republic Act No. 8485
Welfare Act of 1998”, is hereby amended to read as follows:

otherwise known as

“SEC. 6. It shall be unlawful for any person to torture
any animal, to neglect to provide adequate care, sustenance or
shelter, or maltreat any animal or to subject any dog or horse
to dogfights or horsefights, kill or cause or procure to be tortured
or deprived of adequate care, sustenance or shelter, or maltreat or

use the same in research or experiments not expressly authorized
by the Committee on Animal Welfare.

“THE SLAUGHTER OF CARABAOS AND BUFFALO
IS PROHIBITED EXCEPT UNDER THE FOLLOWING
CONDITIONS:

“(A) ONLY CARABAOS AND BUFFALO THAT ARE.
SEVEN (7) YEARS OLD OR OVER, IF MALE, AND ELEVEN
(11) YEARS OLD OR OVER, IF FEMALE, MAY BE
SLAUGHTERED UPON ISSUANCE OF THE NECESSARY
SLAUGHTER PERMIT BY THE AUTHORITIES
CONCERNED; AND

“(B) NO SLAUGHTER PERMIT SHALL BE ISSUED
WITHOUT A CERTIFICATE BY THE PROVINCIAL OR
CITY VETERINARIAN CONCERNED, OR THEIR
AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE, TO THE EFFECT
THAT THE CARABAO OR BUFFALO TO BE SLAUGHTERED
IS OF THE REQUIRED AGE AND FREE FROM ANY DISEASE.

“The killing of CARABAOS AND BUFFALO AS PROVIDED
HEREIN OR any animal other than [cattle,] COWS, pigs, goats, sheep.


poultry, rabbits, [earabaos,] horses, deer and crocodiles is likewise hereby
declared unlawful except in the following instances:

“(1) WHEN THE CARABAOS OR BUFFALO ARE RAISED
IN COMMERCIAL QUANTITY, NOT AS WORK ANIMALS, BUT
FOR MEAT OR PROCESSING;

“[(1)]@) When it is done as part of the religious rituals of an
established religion or sect or a ritual required by tribal or ethnic
custom of indigenous cultural communities; however, leaders shall
keep records in cooperation with the Committee on Animal Welfare;

“[2](3) When the [pet] animal is afflicted with an incurable communi-
cable disease as determined and certified by a duly licensed veterinarian;

“[3](4) When the killing is deemed necessary to put an end to the
misery suffered by the animal as determined and certified by a duly licensed
veterinarian;

“[41(S) When it is done to prevent an imminent danger to the life or
limb of a human being; [and]

“[(5) When done for the purpose of animal population control;]

“(6) When the animal is killed after it has been used in authorized
research or experiments; and

“(7) Any other ground analogous to the foregoing as determined
and certified by a licensed veterinarian,

“In all the above mentioned cases, including those of [cattle,]
COWS, pigs, goats, sheep, poultry, rabbits, carabaos, BUFFALO,
horses, deer and crocodiles, the killing of the animals shall be done
through humane procedures at all times.

“For this purpose, humane procedures shall mean the use of the
most scientific methods available as may be determined and approved
by the Committee ON ANIMAL WELFARE.

“Only those procedures approved by the Committee shall be
used in the killing of animals.”

SEC. 2. All existing laws, orders, decrees, rules and regulations or parts thereof
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 3. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in at least two (2)
national newspapers of general circulation

Approved,