QuestionsQuestions (DA ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. 2)
The purpose is to promote, ensure, and protect the welfare of animals while they are being loaded and unloaded in ports and transported by sea, ensuring their basic freedoms are respected during transport within the limitations imposed by the nature of sea transport.
The five basic freedoms are: Freedom from thirst, hunger and malnutrition; Freedom from physical discomfort and pain; Freedom from injury and disease; Freedom to conform to essential behavioral patterns; and Freedom from fear and distress.
It applies to private or public passenger-cargo or pure cargo vessels and vehicles authorized or used to transport animals within Philippine territory, as well as companies or persons involved in transporting animals.
An 'animal' refers to any livestock, poultry, or other member of the animal kingdom, terrestrial or aquatic, whether wild or domesticated.
Before transport, shippers must secure all required documents from the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) and other appropriate agencies depending on the type of animal, assign a representative or caretaker on board, coordinate with the shipping company on loading/unloading and accommodations, maintain vehicles in good condition, ensure appropriate container van dimensions and stocking density, and apply routine sanitary measures.
The shipper must train representatives, ensure vehicle and container dimensions conform to standards, provide required boxes or cages, secure necessary permits before transport, have a contingency plan for delays, contract only approved vehicles, secure additional permits for wild animals, avoid transport in extreme weather, and provide implements to ensure animal comfort and safety.
The shipper's representative or stock attendant is authorized to transact business on the shipper's behalf and attend to the animals' needs, including providing food and water throughout the voyage, inspecting animals before and during transit, assisting injured or distressed animals, and ensuring proper lighting for inspection.
The ship master shall ensure humane treatment of animals, may refuse boarding of sick or unmanageable animals, ensure ventilation and safety of animal areas, keep animals away from hazardous substances, and coordinate assistance during disembarkation of injured animals with appropriate personnel or authorities.
The Veterinary Quarantine Officer ensures humane treatment of animals on board, verifies the health and fitness of animals for travel, disallows boarding of sick animals, briefs shippers as needed, ensures availability of proper ramps, and inspects livestock vans and equipment for safety and proper flooring.
Violations of any provisions are penalized in accordance with Republic Act 8485 (The Animal Welfare Act of 1998).
Drivers must take precautions to prevent animals from rearing above vehicle height while loading, shipping companies must provide ramps or chutes for animals boarding on foot, animals should be unloaded immediately at the destination port, injured or exhausted animals must be reported to veterinary officers, and pets or poultry kept in cages must be stored in an agreed area.
Other provisions unaffected by such declaration shall continue to be in force and effect per the Separability Clause.
For cattle vans, single floor vans measure 20 ft x 8 ft x 8.5 ft with about 17.77 sq ft allocated per head for cattle and carabaos, and 10.66 sq ft per head for senior pigs. Hog vans have three floors measuring 20 ft x 8 ft x 9 ft total area 480 sq ft, with space allotments of 4 sq ft per weanling pig, 6 sq ft per fattened pig, and 3.2 sq ft per goat.
The Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) is to coordinate with other government agencies that have direct supervision, regulation, and control over sea transport in the Philippines to align rules with RA 8485's intent.