Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 4931

Introduced by Rep. BERNADETTE “BH” HERRERA-DY
EXPLANATORY NOTE

For a lot of Filipinos, dogs are food, not friends, This is an unfortunate
reality that continuous to hound animal lovers despite the passage of
the Animal Welfare Act of 1998 (RA 8485) and the Anti-Rabies Act of 2007
(RA 9482). According to the World Society for the Protection of Animals, the
animals suffer at every stage, from fanning or capture to transport, sale
and slaughter. Moreover, it has serious consequences for human consumers
since low profit margins on dog farms often mean that dogs are fed poor quality
of food, even the carcasses of other dogs, creating a disease-prone food
chain that affects society at large.

Commercial dog meat production is a cruel and inhumane practice
that must be completely eradicated. The law seems to have a little deterrent effect.
as the illegaldog meat trade remains to be a million dollar industry with
nearly 300,000,00 canines butchered every year]. Now on its 18th year, there
seems to be no serious implementation of the law and that arrest and
apprehensions are preferred by lawbreakers due to the minimal fine, which
would cost less than litigations.

Hence, there is a need to enact stiffer penalties for persons who engage
in any ofthe stages of the dog meat trade, and to allocate the funds collected

therefor onthe implementation of this act.

On the basis of the foregoing considerations, the passage of this bill is
earnestly sought.

BERNAI 'E HERRERA-DY


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No._ 4931
Introduced by Rep. BERNADETTE “BH” HERRERA-DY
AN ACT PUNISHING DOG MEAT TRADE

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

SECTION 1. Short Title - This Act shall be known as the “Anti-Dog Meat
Trade Act of 2019."

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy - It is the policy of the State and
the purpose of this Act to protect. and promote the welfare of all animals
in the Philippines, including dogs, and to protect and promote the right to
health of the people. Towards these ends, the ban on dog meat trade
shall be reinforced through the enactment of stiffer penalties for violators.

SEC. 3. Prohibitions - It shall be unlawful for any person to engage
in dog meat trade, including the farming or capture, transport, sale, or
slaughter of dogs for the purpose of trading dog meat.

SEC. 4. Penalties for noncompliance - Any person who engages in
dog meat trade, including the farming or capture, transport, sale,
purchase, or slaughter of dogs for the purposes of trading dog meat shall,
upon conviction by final judgment, be punished by imprisonment and/or
fine, as indicated in the following graduated scale:

1) Imprisonment. of not less than SIX (6) MONTHS nor more
than TWO (2) YEARS, and/or a fine of no more than TEN
THOUSAND PESOS (P10,000.00) per dog, if the person is
found guilty of farming or capture, transport, and/or sale of
live dogs for purposes of trading dog meat.

2) Imprisonment of not less than ONE (1) YEAR or more than
THREE (3) YEARS, and/or a fine of no more than ONE
HUNDRED THOUSAND PESOS (P100, 000.00), if the person
is found guilty of transporting, trading, selling, and/or
purchasing dog meat.

3) Imprisonment of not less than TWO (2) YEARS nor more
than FIVE (5) YEARS, and/or a fine of no more than TWENTY
FIVE THOUSAND PESOS (P25, 000.00) per dog, if the person
is found guilty of slaughter of dogs for the purposes of trading
dog meat.


If a person is guilty of engaging in more than one set of offenses,
the differing penalties shall not be compounded and the higher penalty shall
apply.

In addition to the punishment of imprisonment and/or fine, the
offender is required to attend a forum on animal welfare protection to be
conducted by the Committee on Animal Welfare under the Department of
Agriculture, in cooperation with accredited animal welfare non-government
organizations.

All penalties collected pursuant to this Act shall be deposited in
the National Treasury in an account specifically designated for the
enforcement and implementation of this Act and available only for that
purpose.

SEC. 5. Implementing Rules and Regulations - The Department
of Agriculture, in coordination with the Department of Health, Department of
Trade and Industry, Philippine Information Agency, animal welfare and
consumer welfare non-government organizations, academe, and
stakeholders, shall prepare and promulgate the Implementing Rules and
Regulations (IRR) of this Act within sixty (60) days after the effectivity of this
Act.

SEC. 6. Separability Clause - If any provision or part hereof is
held invalid or unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision
not otherwise affected shall remain valid and subsisting.

EC. 7. Repealing Clause - All laws, presidential decrees, letters
of instructions, executive orders, administrative orders, rules, regulations,
and other issuances or parts thereof which are contrary to or inconsistent
with the provisions of this Act are hereby revoked, repealed or modified
accordingly.

SEC. 8. Effectivity - This Act. shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette and in at least two (2) newspapers of general
circulation.

Approved,