Question & AnswerQ&A (Republic Act No. 10631)
The primary purpose is to protect and promote the welfare of all terrestrial, aquatic, and marine animals in the Philippines by supervising and regulating the establishment and operations of facilities involved in breeding, maintaining, keeping, treating, or training animals as objects of trade or household pets.
Animal welfare pertains to the physical and psychological well-being of animals, including the avoidance of abuse, maltreatment, cruelty, and exploitation by humans. It includes maintaining appropriate standards of accommodation, care, feeding, disease prevention, treatment, and allowing animals to express normal behavior without fear, distress, or pain.
No, it is unlawful for any person to torture, neglect, maltreat, or subject animals to cruel practices such as dogfights or horsefights, or to use them in unauthorized experiments. Killing animals other than certain livestock is also unlawful except in provided exceptions.
Abandonment means relinquishing all right, title, claim, or possession of an animal with the intention of not reclaiming it or resuming ownership. It is unlawful to abandon an animal without providing for its care, and if abandonment causes unnecessary suffering or death, it constitutes maltreatment with penalties.
Imprisonment of 1 year, 6 months and 1 day to 2 years, and/or a fine not exceeding One hundred thousand pesos (P100,000.00).
Imprisonment of 1 year and 1 day to 1 year and 6 months, and/or a fine not exceeding Fifty thousand pesos (P50,000.00).
Imprisonment of 6 months to 1 year, and/or a fine not exceeding Thirty thousand pesos (P30,000.00).
If the offense is committed by a syndicate, a business-oriented offender, a public officer or employee, or involves at least three animals.
The officer responsible in the juridical person shall serve the imprisonment.
Yes, animal welfare enforcement officers deputized by the Secretary of Agriculture have the authority to seize and rescue illegally traded or maltreated animals and to arrest violators, subject to existing laws and regulations on arrest and detention.
Animal welfare enforcement officers may be deputized from NGOs, citizens groups, community organizations, volunteers trained for the purpose, Philippine National Police, National Bureau of Investigation, and other law enforcement agencies.
Other sections or provisions not affected shall continue to be in full force and effect.
It took effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two newspapers of general circulation, whichever came earlier.