HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
RECEIVED

Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Quezon City, Metro Manila Dall

Time: _ 2:
SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS BY,
First Regular Session L
=_ REGISTRATION UNIT
101 BILLS AND INDEX SERVICE
Bae

HOUSE BILL NO.

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVES
ARIEL B. CASILAO
CARLOS ISAGANI T. ZARATE, EMMI A. DE JESUS, ANTONIO L. TINIO,
ARLENE D. BROSAS, FRANCE L. CASTRO, AND SARAH JANE I. ELAGO

EXPLANATORY NOTE

‘The Philippines is an agricultural country, with the livelihood of the majority
of its population directly dependent on farming. Farming generally includes, thru
both backyard and commercial operations, the raising and production of farm
animals such as cattle, carabao, goat, hog, chicken and duck

From 2001 to 2013, according to the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS),
the country’s average annual production of carabao was at 137.68 metric thousand
tons, while cattle was at 250.98 thousand metric tons. For the same period,
average annual production of hog was at 1,826.65 thousand metric tons, goat was
at 76.13 thousand metric tons, chicken was at 1,285.40 thousand metric tons, and
duck was at 43.24 thousand metric tons.

Based on the 2014 national livestock and poultry data of the BAS for
January to June, the number of farm animals in both backyard and commercial
farms are as follows:

Type of Backyard Commercial mista
Animals (no. of heads) | (no. of heads) ns
2,865,840 11,280 2,877,120
Carabao -
caps 2,890,210 163,090 ___ 2,553,300
3,604,110 59,060 3,663,170
Goat
7,235,540 3,283,000 10,518,540
Duck -
Hos 7,958,900 4,518,800 12,477,700

‘Source: Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS), January 2016.



Chicken Type No. of heads in million
Broilers STA
Layers $2.20
Native - 80.85)
| Total 178,770

Source: Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS), January 2016.

Most animal raising and production farms are found in rural or far-flung
areas in the country where there is, unfortunately, despite consistently high rate of
livestock and poultry production, a pervasive dearth of veterinary services. This can
be largely attributable to the fact that the law, particularly Republic Act No. 7160
or The Local Government Code of 1991, specifies that only provincial and city
governments are mandatorily required to appoint a veterinarian officer, leaving a
great number of municipalities for the most part deprived of access to much-
needed public veterinary support and assistance.

Animal raisers, especially those engaged in backyard operations and are
poor, usually cannot afford the services of private veterinarians. They are often
made to wait for the provincial or city veterinarian to visit their area, a very rare
occasion, in fact, which comes at no certain time.

Backyard animal raisers are, thus, practically left to themselves in treating
animal diseases. They employ traditional forms and ways that do not necessarily
guarantee either a quick fix or the prevention of such diseases from being
transmitted to other animals or, worse, to people. There are obviously animal
diseases, such as cat scratch disease, mad cow disease, and brucellosis, among
others, that need the immediate attention and professional expertise of duly
licensed veterinarians.

Moreover, failure to properly treat animal diseases naturally jeopardizes the
supply of livestock and poultry products in the market, to the detriment of the
public and the economy.

‘Thus, this bill, filed previously in the 15% and 16t congresses by former
Anakpawis representatives Rafael Mariano and Fernando Hicap, respectively, is
here being refiled with the intent of amending certain provisions of Republic Act No.
7160 or The Local Government Code of 1991 in order to prescribe the mandatory
appointment of veterinarian officers not only in provincial and city governments but
also in municipal units.

This legislative measure seeks to decisively address the proliferation of
contagious and harmful animal diseases in the countryside and the immediate
delivery of public veterinary services to far-flung villages where the raising and
production of farm animals is concentrated.



This measure also aims to expand certain functions and duties of a
veterinarian officer in order to more adequately and regularly serve the veterinary
needs of remote communities.

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

t-

REP. ARIEL B. CASILAO
ANAKPAWIS Party-list

RER CARLOS 16a fT. ZARATE REP. EMMI A. DE JESUS
BAYAN MUNA Party-list GABRIELA Women’s Party

heakme
REP. ANTONIO L. TINIO REP. E D. BROSAS
ACT Teachers Party GABRIELA Women’s Party

REP. FI E J CASTRO REP. S, JANE I. ELAGO
ACTeacher Party KABKYAAN Party-list


provincial, [and] city, AND MUNICIPAL governments.

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

(1) Formulate measures for the consideration of the
sanggunian, and provide technical assistance and support to the
governor or mayor, as the case may be, in carrying out measures to
ensure the delivery of basic services and provision of adequate
facilities pursuant to Section 17 of this Code;

(2) Develop plans and strategies and upon approval thereof by
the governor or mayor, as the case may be, implement the same,
particularly those which have to do with the veterinary-related
activities which the governor or mayor is empowered to implement
and which the sanggunian is empowered to provide for under this
Code;

(3) In addition to the foregoing duties and functions, the
veterinarian shall:

(i) 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 of
slaughterhouses;

(ii) Regulate the keeping of domestic animals,

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

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

(v) Take the necessary measures to eradicate, prevent or
cure all forms of animal diseases; AND

(VI) VISIT AND RENDER VETERINARY SERVICES, AT
LEAST ONCE A WEEK, TO EVERY BARANGAY OF
THE CITY OR MUNICIPALITY WHERE THEY ARE
APPOINTED. PROVINCIAL VETERTNARIANS SHALL
COORDINATE WITH CITY AND MUNICIPAL
VETERINARIANS REGARDING THE CONDUCT AND
IMPLEMENTATION OF VETERINARY SERVICES
WITHIN THEIR AREA OF JURISDICTION;

(4) Be in the frontline of veterinary related activities, such as in
the outbreak of highly-contagious and deadly diseases, and in
situations resulting in the depletion of animals for work and human
consumption, particularly those arising from and in the aftermath of
man-made and natural calamities and disasters;

(5) Recommend to the sanggunian and advise the governor or
mayor, as the case may be, on all other matters relative to veterinary
services which will increase the number and improve the quality of



livestock, poultry and other domestic animals used for work or
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
MAYBE, 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 and
functions as may be prescribed by law or ordinance."

SECTION 3. Repealing Clause. -All 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 or 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 (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) national newspapers of
general circulation.

Approved.