SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Second Regular Session 
SENATE 
S.B. No. 2611 
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Introduced by Senator Ramon Bong Revilla, Jr. 
AN ACT 
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PROVIDING FOR THE MANDATORY APPOINTMENT OF A MUNICIPAL 
VETERINARIAN OFFICER, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE CERTAIN 
PROVISIONS OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7160 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Being an agricultural country, the livelihood of q majority of the Filipino population 
is dependent on farming. The raising and production of farm animals therefore is 
imperative for this livelihood. 
Most animal raising and production farms are found in rural or far-flung areas in 
the country. Unfortunately, in these areas, there is a pervasive dearth or veterinary 
services. 
The Local Government Code (RA 7160) mandates only provinces and cities to 
have their own veterinarian officer. This leaves a greater number, the municipalities to 
lack the much needed public veterinary support and assistance. 
This bill seeks to address this problem by providing for a municipal veterinary 
officer. Hopefully, we may be able to deal with the proliferation of contagious and 
harmful animal diseases in the countryside. This proposal will ensure the immediate 
delivery of public veterinary services to far-flung villages where the raising and 
production offarm animals is concentrated. 
In this regard, passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 


SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Second Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
., IEB -2 P,):35 
SENAW 
S.B. No. 
611 
Introduced by Senator Ramon Bong Revilla, Jr. 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING FOR THE MANDATORY APPOINTMENT OF A MUNICIPAL 
VETERINARIAN OFFICER, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE CERTAIN 
PROVISIONS OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7160 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Congress assembled: 
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SECTION 1. Section 443 of Republic Act No. 7160 is hereby amended to read as 
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follows: 
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"Section 443. Officials of the Municipal Government. -(a) There shall be in 
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each 
municipality a municipal mayor, 
a municipal vice mayor, 
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sangguniang bayan members, a secretary to the sangguniang bayan, a 
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municipal treasurer, a municipal assessor, a municipal accountant, a 
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municipal budget officer, a municipal planning and development officer, A 
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MUNICIPAL VETERINARIAN and a municipal civil registrar. 
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xxx" 
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SECTION 2. Section 489 of the same Act is hereby amended to read as follows: 
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"Section 489. Qualifications, Powers and Duties. - (a) No person shall be 
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appointed veterinarian unless he is a citizen of the Philippines, a resident 
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of the local government concerned, of good moral character, and a 
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licensed doctor of veterinary medicine. He must have practiced his 
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profession for at least three (3) years in the case of provincial or city 
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veterinarian and at least one (1) year in the case of the municipal 
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veterinarian. 
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The appointment of a veterinarian officer is mandatory for the provincial, 
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[and) city, AND MUNICIPAL governments. 
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(b) The veterinarian shall take charge of the office for veterinary services 
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and shall: 
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(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 BARANGA Y OF THE CITY OR 
MUNICIPALITY WHERE THEY ARE APOINTED. PROVINCIAL 
VETERINARIANS 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, 
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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 GOVERNMENTAGENCIES AND INSTITUTIONS 
FOR 
THE 
IMPLEMENTATION 
OF 
VETERINARY-RELATED 
NATIONAL PROGRAMS 
AND 
ACTIVITIES 
IN 
THE 
LOCAL 
GOVERNMENT UNIT CONCERNED; AND 
(7) ASSIST THE GOVERNOR OR MAYOR, AS THE CASE MAY BE, 
IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF VETERINARY-RELATED NATIONAL 
PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES IN THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNIT 
CONCERNED; 
(c) Exercise such other powers and perform such other duties and 
functions as may be prescribed by law or ordinance." 
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SECTION 3. Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive order, letter of 
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instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to, or inconsistent with the 
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provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended accordingly. 
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SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the 
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Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
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SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in at 
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least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
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Approved, 
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