SP passes ordinance promoting, protecting animal welfare
Iloilo Governor Niel D. Tupas, Sr., signs the
Provincial Ordinance No. 2007-068, a Provincial
Ordinance Protecting and Promoting Animal
Welfare and is witnessed by (from l-r) Board
Member Cecilia H. Capadosa, Provincial
Veterinarian Dr. Silvino R. Teodosio and Provincial
Administrator Manuel P. Mejorada.
The Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) recently approved the provincial ordinance that protects and promotes animal welfare in the Province of Iloilo.
The ordinance, jointly sponsored by Board Members Domingo B. Oso, Jr. and Lilia Y. Gonzalez who chairs the Committee on Legal Matters and Inter-Government Relations and Committee on Agriculture, respectively, is crafted in accordance with the provisions of Republic Act 8485 or the Animal Welfare Act of 1998.
Dr. Silvino R. Teodosio, Provincial Veterinarian, in an interview said the ordinance primarily aims at protecting animal welfare; conducting sustained information drive about the provisions of RA 8485 as well as prosecution of those engaged in the illegal trading of animals; and prohibiting any form of cruelty to animals as well as the prohibition on the killings of animals other than those allowed under the said law.
He said the Philippine government is one of the signatories to the Universal Declaration on Animal Welfare on San Jose, Costa Rica and recognizes that "animals are living sentient beings (capable of experiencing pain and suffering) and therefore deserve due consideration and respect.
Teodosio said further the ordinance was passed to ensure the protection and promotion of all animals found within the territorial jurisdiction of Iloilo Province whether wild or domesticated, which are kept, bred, treated, trained either as object of trade or as household pets including birds.
He said the ordinance prohibits any person, association, partnership, corporation, cooperative or any government agency or instrumentally including slaughterhouses to establish, maintain, operate any pet shop, kennel, veterinary clinic, veterinary hospital, stockyard, corral, stud farm or stock farm or zoo for the breeding treatment, sale or trading or training of animals without first securing certificate of registration from the Bureau of Animal Industry.
The said facilities should be kept adequate, clean and sanitary and will not be used for, nor cause pain/or suffering to the animals, otherwise, the Regional/Provincial/City Veterinarian will order the closure of those facilities and the cancellation of the Certificate of Registration.
Under the ordinance, it shall unlawful for any person to torture any animal, to neglect to provide care, sustenance or shelter, or maltreat any animal or to subject any dog, horse or carabulls fights, kill or cause or procure to be tortured, or deprived of adequate care, sustenance or shelter, or maltreat or use the same in research or experiments not authorized by the Committee on Animal Welfare.
Any person who violates any provision of this Act, if found guilty, will be punished by imprisonment of no less than six (6) months nor more than two (2) years or a fine of not less than P1,000.00 nor more than P5,000.00 or both in the discretion of the Court.
(Capitol News)