Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 8331

Introduced by
BAYAN MUNA Representatives EUFEMIA C. CULLAMAT,
CARLOS ISAGANI T. ZARATE, and FERDINAND R. GAITE,
GABRIELA Women’s Party Representative ARLENE D. BROSAS,
ACT TEACHERS Party-List Representative FRANCE L. CASTRO,
and KABATAAN Party-List Representative SARAH JANE I, ELAGO

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR THE MANDATORY APPOINTMENT OF A MUNICIPAL
VETERINARIAN OFFICER, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE CERTAIN.
PROVISIONS OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7160 OTHERWISE KNOWN AS “AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR A LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE OF 1991"

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.

‘As of 2018, according to data from the Philippine Statistics Authority, the country’s production
of carabao was at 143.1 thousand metric tons, while cattle was at 263.3 thousand metric tons.
Production of hog for 2018 was at 2,319.8 thousand metric tons, chicken was at 1,836.7
thousand metric tons, and duck was at 30.8 thousand metric tons.

Based on the 2018 national livestock and poultry data of the Philippine Statistics Office, the
number of farm animals in both backyard and commercial farms are as follows:

. Backyard Commercial
Type of Animals | (ao ofheads) | (no.ofheads) _| Tot!
terior 2,870,873 11,021 2,881,894
aie 2,389,191 158,423 2,547,614



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FSSBIS

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etas 3,659,374 50,974 3,710,348,
Dax 7,467,826 3,374,133 10,841,959
He 8,120,087 4,307,703 12,427,790

log,
Source: Livestock and Poultry Statistics of the Philippines 2013-2017

Chicken Type No. of heads in million
Broilers ost

Layers 34.47

Native ae

Total 175,316

Source: Livestock and Poultry Statistics of the Philippines 2013-2017

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", 16% and 17 congresses by former Anakpawis
representatives Rafael Mariano, Fernando Hicap, and Ariel Casilao 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 secks 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.


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

82

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

85
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87 Approved,
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91 sions
92 REP. EUFEMIA C. CULLAMAT

93 Bayan Muna Partylist
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(
7
5 maken esate
99 REP. CARLOS ISA¢ . [NAND R. GAITE

100 Bayan Muna Partylist Bayan Muna Partylist

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104 an

105 REP, . BROSAS REP. ‘CASTRO
106 sRIE. ACT TEACHBRS Partylist
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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
6331
HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by
BAYAN MUNA Party-List Representatives EUFEMIA C. CULLAMAT,
Rep. CARLOS ISAGANI T. ZARATE, and Rep. FERDINAND R. GAITE,
ACT TEACHERS Party-List Representative FRANCE L. CASTRO,
GABRIELA Women’s Party Representative ARLENE D. BROSAS,
and KABATAAN Party-List Representative SARAH JANE I. ELAGO

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR THE MANDATORY APPOINTMENT OF A MUNICIPAL
VETERINARIAN OFFICER, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE CERTAIN

PROVISIONS OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7160 OTHERWISE KNOWN AS “AN ACT

PROVIDING FOR A LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE OF 1991"

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

SECTION 1. Section 443 of Republic Act No. 7160 is hereby amended to read as follows:

"Section 443. Officials of the Municipal Government. - (a) There shall be in each
municipality a municipal mayor, a municipal vice mayor, sangguniang bayan members, a
secretary to the sangguniang bayan, a municipal treasurer, a municipal assessor, a municipal
accountant, a municipal budget officer, a municipal planning and development
coordinator, a municipal engincer/building official, a municipal health officer, A
MUNICIPAL VETERINARIAN and a municipal civil registrar.

2x"

SECTION 2. Section 489 of Republic Act No. 7160 is hereby amended, to read as follows:

"Section 489. Qualifications, Powers and Duties. - (a) No person shall be appointed
veterinarian unless he is a citizen of the Philippines, [a resident of the local government
concerned,] of good moral character, and a licensed doctor of veterinary medicine. He
must have practiced his profession for at least three (3) years in the case of provincial or
city veterinarian and at least one (1) year in the case of the municipal veterinarian.

‘The appointment of a veterinarian officer is mandatory for the
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;


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(2) Develop plans and strategies and upon approval thereof by the
governor ot 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:

@ 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;

Gi Regulate the keeping of domestic animals,

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

(v) 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 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;

(6) 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]

(© 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;


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(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

(©) 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.