Question & AnswerQ&A (Act No. 1798)
The main objective of Act No. 1798 is to provide for the protection of animal life in the Philippine Islands by regulating the hunting, possession, sale, transport, and export of certain wild birds, mammals, and their nests or eggs.
It is unlawful for any person to hunt, wound, take, or kill, or possess, purchase, offer for sale, transport, ship, or export alive or dead any wild bird (except game birds), certain mammals, or their nests or eggs protected by this Act.
The birds commonly known as eagles, hawks, owls, crows, galancian, and mayas are excluded from protection under this Act.
The Act does not prohibit the keeping of any bird as a domestic pet.
It is unlawful to use traps, snares, nets, bird lime, swivel guns, deer lick, pitfalls, artificial light, batteries, or other deceptive devices to hunt protected birds and mammals. Only guns, spears, lances, or bows and arrows are allowed.
Yes, hunting, wounding, taking, or killing of protected birds or mammals, or taking their eggs is allowed if it is to secure food for oneself or one’s family.
Violators are subject to a fine not exceeding one hundred pesos for each fish, bird, mammal, nest, or egg unlawfully killed, taken, possessed, shipped, or exported.
Informants who provide information that leads to conviction will receive one-half of the fine imposed.
No, the Act explicitly states that the hunting, wounding, taking, or killing of wild pigs is not prohibited at any manner or season of the year.
The Secretary of the Interior may, with the approval of the Governor-General, declare and publish a close season for any protected bird or mammal or fish for a period not exceeding five months in any year to protect wildlife.
The order must be published for at least three weeks in daily newspapers in Manila and the affected provinces, and a copy must be posted at the provincial building’s main entrance.