SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
Second Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
S.NO. 2409 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
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S£P 15 P 3 :31 
AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8485, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS 
"THE ANIMAL WELFARE ACT OF 1998,,1 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article 2, Section 16 provides: 
Section 16. The State shall protect and advance the right of the people to a 
balanced and healthful ecology in accord with the rhythm and harmony of nature. 
Esteemed veterinarian and author, Dr. Michael V. Fox, once said, "Zoos are becoming 
facsimiles - or perhaps caricatures - of how animals once were in their natural habitat. If the 
right policies toward nature were pursued, we would need no zoos at all." It is the State's duty to 
protect all life, including those of animals, in order to uphold its mandate to advance the right of 
the people to a balanced and healthful ecology in accord with the rhythm and harmony of nature. 
To paraphrase German philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer, to assume that animals are without 
rights and the illusion that our treatment of them has no moral significance is an example of 
human crudity and barbarity. Universal compassion is the only guarantee of morality. 
The Animal Welfare Act has proven to be inefficient in addressing the plight of animals, 
especially those in captivity. Apart from the small pecuniary penalties that do not really act as a 
deterrent, the Animal Welfare Act is bereft of penalties targeting irresponsible or negligent, and 
culpable government officials. The Animal Welfare Act should therefore address current issues 
hounding the state of animals in captivity, and its inadequacy to provide a provision ensuring 
I Thi~ bill was first filed during the Fifteenth Congress, Third Regular Session. 
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government action. This bill aims to amend the Animal Welfare Act and provide a limited time 
frame upon which the Bureau of Animal Industry and the Department of Agriculture should act. 
Failure to act within such time frame will result in administrative action against those 
government officials who are responsible. Likewise, the government shall be mandated to create 
a special committee in charge of overseeing the welfare of animals in captivity, particularly those 
in zoos, in order to properly monitor the welfare of animals in their enclosed habitats. 
~~.L,. )~ 
,MIRIAM DEFiws~ANTiN6o 
til 
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SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
Second Regular Session 
) 
'14 
SEP 15 P3 :31 
SENATE 
S. No.2409 
RE(,EIVElJ 8V:_r 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
Be it enacted in the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in the 
Congress assembled: 
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AN ACT 
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AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8485, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS 
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"THE ANIMAL WELFARE ACT OF 1998" 
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SECTION 1. Section 5 of Republic Act No. 8485, otherwise known as the Animal 
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Welfare Act of 1998, is amended to read as follows: 
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Sec. 5. There is hereby created a Committee on Animal Welfare attached to the 
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Department of Agriculture which shall, subject to the approval of the Secretary of 
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the Department of Agriculture, issue the necessary rules and regulations for the 
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strict implementation of the provisions of this Act, including the setting of safety 
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and sanitary standards, within thilty (30) calendar days following its approval. 
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Such guidelines shall be reviewed by the Committee every three (3) years from its 
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implementation or whenever necessary. 
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The Committee shall be composed of the official representatives of the 
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following: 
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(1) The Department ofInterior and Local Government (DILG); 
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(2) Department of Education, Culture and Sports (DECS); 
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(3) Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) of the Depmtment of Agriculture 
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(DA); 
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(4) Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau (PA WB) of the Department of 
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Environment and Natural Resources (DENR); 
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(5) National Meat Inspection Commission (NMIC) of the DA; 
(6) Agriculture Training Institute (ATI) of the DA; 
(7) Philippine Veterinary Medical Association (PVMA); 
(8) Veterinary Practitioners Association of the Philippines (VP AP); 
(9) Philippine Animal Hospital Association of the Philippines (P AHA); 
(10) 
Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS); 
(11) 
Philippine Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals 
(PSPCA); 
(12) 
Philippine Society of Swine Practitioners (PSSP); 
(13) 
Philippine College of Canine Practitioners (PCCP); and 
(14) 
Philippine Society of Animal Science (PSAS). 
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. The Committee shall be chaired by a representative coming [rom the 
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private sector and shall have two (2) vice-chairpersons composed of the 
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representative of the BAI and another from the private sector. 
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THE COMMITTEE SHALL CREATE A SPECIAL WORKING GROUP 
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TO HELP OVERSEE THE HEALTH AND WELFARE OF ANIMALS IN 
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CAPTIVITY, PARTICULARLY THOSE IN ZOOS. THE GROUP SHALL BE 
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COMPOSED OF TWO QUALIFIED ANIMAL WELFARE ORGANIZATIONS 
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APART FROM THOSE ABOVEMENTIONED, ONE REPRESENTATIVE 
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FROM 
THE 
BUREAU 
OF 
ANIMAL 
INDUSTRY, 
AND 
ONE 
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REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE PROTECTED AREAS AND WILDLIFE 
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BUREAU. 
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The Committee AND THE SPECIAL WORKING GROUP shall meet 
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quarterly or as often as the need arises. The Committee members shall not receive 
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any compensation but may receive reasonable honoraria from time to time. 
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THE COMMITTEE AND ITS SPECIAL WORKING GROUP SHALL 
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BE 
MANDATED 
TO 
SUBMIT 
A 
YEARLY 
REPORT 
ON 
ITS 
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ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE OFFICE OF 
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THE PRESIDENT, AND FURNISH A COPY TO THE HOUSE OF 
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REPRESENTATIVES AND THE SENATE, ON OR BEFORE MARCH 3l. 
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LIKEWISE, THE COMMITTEE AND SPECIAL WORKING GROUP SHALL 
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POST IN THEIR MEMBERS' WEBSITES, IF ANY, SUCH REPORT BEFORE 
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MAY 31 OF EACH YEAR. 
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SECTION 2. New Section 7A is hereby inserted after Section 7 of Republic Act No. 
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8485, to read as follows: 
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"Sec. 7 A. Upon a sworn complaint or affidavit filed with the Bureau of 
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Animal Industries (BAI) or the Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau (P A WB) 
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requesting for a· study, evaluation, recommendation, or action on the alleged 
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improper or lack of care of animals in establishments or facilities, such as pet 
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shops, kennels, veterinary clinics, veterinary hospitals, stockyards, corrals, stud 
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farms or stock farms, or zoos, the BAI or the PA WB shall conduct an evaluation 
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of such establishments or facilities within thirty (30) days from receipt of such 
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affidavit, and shall submit its report, together with its recommendations, or act on 
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said complaint, within thirty (45) forty-five days from the start of such 
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evaluation." 
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SECTION 3. New Section 8A is hereby inserted after Section 8 of Republic Act No. 
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8485, to read as follows: 
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"Sec. 8A. Failure of the government agency to act within the period 
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mentioned in Section 7 A shall be grounds for administrative action on the 
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government official charged with the study and evaluation of the establishment 01' 
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facility mentioned in the complaint or affidavit, and for the submission of a report 
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on such study or evaluation, for gross negligence. The government official or 
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employee responsible shall be penalized with a fine of ten thousand pesos 
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(PIO,OOO.OO) aside from the penalty he or she may be sanctioned with for gross 
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neglect of duty." 
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SECTION 3. Repealing Clause. - All laws, orders, issuances, rules and regulations or 
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parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, modified, or 
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amended accordingly. 
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SECTION 4. Separability Clause. -
If any part of this Act is held invalid or 
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unconstitutional, the other parts oro. provisions thereof not affected shall remain valid and 
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effective. 
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. SECTION 5. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (IS) days after its publication 
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in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
Imamt 
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