FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
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There is no doubt that animals have contributed to the enrichment and humanity of 
society. Pets, in particular, have been a source of enduring companionship, service and therapy 
to their owners. 
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 did not include adequate measures for 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 
responsible pet ownership must also be upheld. 
This bill penalizes those who abandon their pets, or those who abandon animals they 
have sideswiped or run 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.l 
I This bill was originally filed in the Fourteenth Congress, Second Regular Session 
1 


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
1 Q 
JlJL 21 
iI (I :42 
, SEN1\J.F.. 
S.No. 
~ti81 
/) / 
Introduc.ed by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
1 
AN ACT 
2 
AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8485, ALSO KNOWN AS, "THE ANIMAL 
3 
WELFARE ACT OF THE PHILIPPINES," 
4 
5 
6 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
7 
Congress assembled: 
8 
9 
SECTION 1. Section 1 of Republic Act 8485 is hereby amended to read as follows: 
10 
"SECTION 1. 
THIS ACT SHALL BE KNOWN AS THE "ANIMAL 
11 
WELFARE AND CONTROL ACT." 
12 
13 
SECTION 2. A new section is hereby inserted after Section 4 of Republic Act 8485 to 
14 
read as follows: 
15 
"SECTION 5. IT SHALL BE UNLAWFUL FOR THE OWNER OF ANY 
16 
ANIMAL TO ALLOW IT TO RUN AT LARGE UNATTENDED ON OR 
17 
ABOUT THE STREETS OR ON THE PROPERTY OF ANOTHER WITHOUT 
18 
SUCH PROPERTY OWNER'S CONSENT. ANY SUCH ANIMAL AT LARGE 
19 
SHALL BE IMPOUNDED BY THE 
LOCAL ANIMAL CONTROL 
20 
AUTHORITIES. 
21 
IT SHALL BE THE DUTY OF EVERY OWNER OF ANY ANIMAL TO KEEP 
22 
THE ANIMAL UNDER CONTROL AT ALL TIMES WHILE THE ANIMAL IS 
23 
ON THE REAL PROPERTY OF THE OWNER. FOR PURPOSE OF THIS 
24 
SECTION, AN ANIMAL IS DEEMED UNDER CONTROL WHEN IT IS 
25 
CONFINED BY WAY OF FENCE OR OTHER ENCLOSURE, RESTRAINED 
26 
BY SUBSTANTIAL CHAIN OR LEASH, RESTRAINED IN SOME OTHER 
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1 
PHYSICAL MANNER BY A COMPETENT PERSON, OR IS UNDER THE 
2 
CONTROL OF A COMPETENT PERSON WHO IS PRESENT WITH THE 
3 
ANIMAL, VIA VOICE COMMAND, SO THAT THE ANIMAL DOES NOT 
4 
WANDER OFF THE REAL PROPERTY OF THE OWNER. 
5 
IN ADDITION, ALL MALE AND FEMALE DOGS AND CATS THAT 
6 
HAVE NOT BEEN SPAYED OR NEUTERED MUST BE SECURELY 
7 
CONFINED IN SUCH A WAY THAT THEY NOT ONLY CANNOT GET OUT 
8 
TO RUN LOOSE, BUT ALSO CANNOT BE REACHED BY OTHER DOGS 
9 
OR CATS. 
10 
IT SHALL BE THE DUTY OF THE OWNER OF ANY ANIMAL TO 
, 
11 
KEEP THE ANIMAL UNDER CONTROL AT ALL TIMES WHILE THE 
12 
ANIMAL IS OFF OF THE REAL PROPERTY LIMITS OF THE OWNER. FOR 
13 
THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, AN ANIMAL IS DEEMED UNDER 
14 
CONTROL WHEN IT IS CONFINED WITHIN A VEHICLE, PARKED OR IN 
15 
MOTION, IS SECURED BY A LEASH OR OTHER DEVICE HELD BY A 
16 
COMPETENT PERSON, OR IS PROPERLY CONFINED WITHIN AN 
17 
ENCLOSURE WITH PERMISSION OF THE OWNER OF THE PROPERTY 
18 
WHERE THE ENCLOSURE IS LOCATED." 
• 
19 
SECTION 3. Section 5 of the same Act is hereby renumbered as Section 6. 
20 
SECTION 4. A new section is hereby inserted after Section 5 of Republic Act 8485 to 
21 
read as follows: 
22 
"SECTION 7. THE COMMITTEE SHALL DRAW UP GUIDELINES 
23 
FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF ANIMAL SHELTERS. EVERY CITY AND 
24 
MUNICIPALITY IS ENCOURAGED TO ESTABLISH AT LEAST ONE 
25 
ANIMAL SHELTER WITHIN THEIR VICINTY. IN THE MEANTIME THAT 
26 
NO ANIMAL SHELTER HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED, A PLAN FOR THE 
27 
PROTECTION AND ADOPTION OF LOST AND STRAY ANIMALS SHALL 
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1 
BE FORMULATED BY THE COMMITTEE ON ANIMAL WELFARE IN 
2 
COORDINATION WITH THE DEPT. OF INTERIOR AND LOCAL 
3 
GOVERNMENT (DILG). 
4 
5 
IN SUPPORT OF THESE OBJECTIVES, THE COMMITTEE SHALL 
6 
ESTABLISH PROGRAMS FOR THE TRAINNG OF ALL ANIMAL 
7 
CONTROL 
OFFICERS 
INSTRUCTING 
THEM 
IN 
THE 
PROPER 
8 
OPERATION OF ANIMAL SHELTERS AND THE HUMANE TREATMENT 
• 
9 
OF LOST AND STRAY ANIMALS." 
10 
11 
SECTION 5. Section 6 of the same Act is hereby renumbered as Section 8. 
12 
SECTION 6. Section 7 ofthe same Act is hereby renumbered as Section 9. 
13 
SECTION 7. A new section is hereby inserted after Section 7 of the same Act to read as 
14 
follows: 
15 
"SECTION 10. IT SHALL BE UNLAWFUL FOR ANY PERSON WHO 
16 
IS IN THE CUSTODY OF AN ANIMAL TO ABANDON THE ANIMAL. 
17 
IF ANY PERSON BEING THE OWNER OR HAVING CHARGE OR 
18 
CONTROL OF ANY ANIMAL SHALL WITHOUT REASONABLE CAUSE 
19 
OR EXCUSE ABANDON IT, WHETHER PERMANENTLY OR NOT, 
20 
WITHOUT PROVIDING FOR THE CARE OF THAT ANIMAL, SUCH ACT 
21 
SHALL CONSITUTE MALTREATMENT UNDER SECTION 8. 
22 
IF THE ANIMAL IS LEFT IN CIRCUMSTANCES LIKELY TO 
23 
CAUSE THE ANIMAL ANY UNNECESSARY SUFFERING, OR IF THIS 
24 
ABANDONMENT RESULTS IN THE DEATH OF THE ANIMAL, THE 
25 
PERSON LIABLE SHALL SUFFER THE MAXIMUM PENALTY. 
26 
ABANDONMENT MEANS THE RELINQUISHMENT OF ALL 
27 
RIGHT, TITLE, CLAIM, OR POSSESSION OF THE ANIMAL WITH THE 
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1 
INTENTION OF NOT RECLAIMING IT OR RESUMING ITS OWNERSHIP 
2 
OR POSSESSION." 
3 
SECTION 8. A new section is hereby inserted after the section above to read as follows: 
4 
"SECTION 11. IF A DRIVER OF A MOTOR VEHICLE OR OTHER 
5 
SELF-PROPELLED VEHICLE SHALL STRIKE AND INJURE OR KILL ANY 
6 
DOMESTICATED ANIMAL, SUCH DRIVER SHALL GIVE REASONABLE 
7 
AID AND ASSISTANCE AND/OR PROTECTION TO SUCH ANIMAL, 
8 
WITHOUT PLACING HIMSELF OR HERSELF AT UNREASONABLE RISK, 
9 
AND CALL AND REPORT THE FACTS PERTAINING TO THE INCIDENT 
10 
TO EITHER OF THE FOLLOWING AUTHORITIES: 
11 
1. BARANGA Y OFFICIALS; OR 
12 
2. THE POLICE AGENCY HAVING JURISDICTION IN THE AREA 
13 
WHERE THE ANIMAL IS STRUCK. 
14 
AFTER MAKING THE REPORT REQUIRED ABOVE, THE DRIVER 
15 
SHALL COMPLY WITH THE INSTRUCTIONS GIVEN BY THE AGENCY 
16 
CONTACTED AND SHALL, IF INSTRUCTED, REMAIN AT THE SCENE 
17 
UNTIL APPROPRIATE POLICE OR ANIMAL CONTROL AUTHORITY 
18 
ARRIVES. AFTER ARRIVAL OF APPROPRIATE AUTHORITY, THE 
19 
DRIVER SHALL COOPERATE WITH SUCH AUTHORITY IN THE 
20 
INVESTIGATION AND REPORTING OF THE INCIDENT. 
21 
AS 
AN 
ALTERNATIVE 
TO 
COMPLYING 
WITH 
THE 
22 
REQUIREMENTS SET FORTH ABOVE, THE MOTOR VEHICLE DRIVER 
23 
MAY TRANSPORT THE ANIMAL WHICH HAS BEEN STRUCK TO THE 
24 
CITY OR MUNICIPALITY'S ANIMAL FACILITY, OR, IN THE CASE OF 
25 
AN 
ANIMAL 
WHICH 
IS 
INJURED 
AND 
NOT 
DEAD, 
TO 
A 
26 
VETERINARIAN FOR TREATMENT OF THE ANIMAL'S INJURIES. IF THE 
27 
DRIVER CHOOSES THE LATTER COURSE OF ACTION, HE/SHE SHALL 
28 
BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COST OF TREATMENT IF REQUIRED BY 
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1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7 
8 
9 
10 
11 
12 
THE VETERINARIAN. 
FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH ANY OF THE 
REQUIREMENTS 
IN 
THIS 
SECTION 
SHALL 
CONSTITUTE 
ABANDONMENT OF THE ANIMAL UNDER SECTION 8. 
THIS 
SECTION 
SHALL 
NOT 
APPLY 
TO 
DRIVERS 
OF 
EMERGENCY VEHICLES IF SUCH VEHICLES ARE BEING OPERATED IN 
RESPONSE TO A BONA FIDE EMERGENCY SITUATION AT THE TIME 
THE ANIMAL IS STRUCK. EMERGENCY VEHICLE OPERATORS WHO 
STRIKE AN ANIMAL DURING A RESPONSE TO A BONA FIDE 
EMERGENCY 
SITUATION 
SHALL 
NOTIFY 
THE 
AUTHORITIES 
MENTIONED ABOVE OF THE INCIDENT AS SOON AS IS PRACTICABLE 
THEREAFTER." 
13 
SECTION 9. Section 8 of the same Act is hereby renumbered as Section 12. 
14 
SECTION 10. 
A new section is hereby inserted after the section above to read as 
IS 
follows: 
16 
"SECTION 13. Appropriations. - THE AMOUNT NECESSARY FOR THE 
17 
INITIAL IMPLEMENTATION' OF THIS ACT SHALL BE CHARGED AGAINST 
18 
THE APPROPRIATIONS OF THE DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE. THEREAFTER, 
19 
SUCH SUM AS MAY BE NECESSARY FOR ITS FULL IMPLEMENTATION 
20 
SHALL BE INCLUDED IN THE ANNUAL GENERAL APPROPRIATIONS ACT AS 
21 
A DISTINCT AND SEPARATE ITEM." 
22 
23 
SECTION 11. Section 9 of the same Act is hereby renumbered as Section 14. 
24 
SECTION 12. Section 10 of the same Act is hereby renumbered as Section 15. 
25 
SECTION 13. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof, is held invalid or 
26 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the Act or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain 
27 
valid and subsisting. 
5 


1 
SECTION 14. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
2 
order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to, or inconsistent 
3 
with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended accordingly. 
4 
SECTION 15. EffectiVity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
5 
publication in at least two (2) newspaper~ of general circulation. 
6 
7 
8 
9 
Approved, 
10 
lacs 
6