Thursday, January 18, 2007 Agency, group to hold hearings on dog meat ban
IN A BID to gather recommendations for the effective and smooth implementation of the Animal Welfare Law, personnel of the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI), in coordination with an animal welfare group, will conduct a series of consultations in various areas in the country.
The BAI Animal Welfare Division is calling the public to submit their suggestions or recommendations to be incorporated in the draft of the implementing rules and regulations (IRRs) of the Animal Welfare Law.
Recently, the BAI and the Network for Animals-Philippines held a public hearing among leaders, residents and government agencies in Benguet, wherein respect for culture was emphasized.
Former Benguet board member Bial Pelaez, one of the participants in the meeting, stressed that the eating of dog meat is part of the cultural practices of the tribes from Northern Luzon.
Agriculture Assistant Regional Director Jerry Baliang said around 90 percent of Cordillera males are dog meat eaters. He said the eating of dog meat is "a part of the northern tribe's culture and a part of showing one's hospitality to visitors."
"Dog meat is served as a delicacy, not only in the Cordillera region, but in the whole of Northern Luzon as well," he said.
Republic Act (RA) 8485 or the Animal Welfare Act bans the killing of any animal other than cattle, pigs, goats, sheep, poultry, rabbits, carabaos, horses, deer and crocodiles except when it is done as part of the religious rituals of an established religion or sect or a ritual required by tribal or ethnic custom of indigenous cultural communities, provided that leaders will keep records in cooperation with the Provincial Board (PB) committee on animal welfare.
The meeting in Benguet is a part of a series of public hearings to be conducted by the BAI Animal Welfare Division for the drafting of the IRRs of the Animal Rights Act.
BAI Animal Welfare Division officer-in-charge Angel Antonio Mateo said the Philippines recognizes that animal welfare perspectives, practices and approaches may vary from one country to another because of various factors such as culture, tradition, religion, norms and government policy, a reason why they are now consulting with the different cultural groups affected by the law.
The Philippines recognizes animal welfare as an important facet to sustainable development, but should not be linked and included to other issues such as trade and health, Mateo added.
He said the output of the series of public hearing aims to enjoin all nations to have a common acceptable principle on animal welfare to address issues and concerns which should be translated into doable approaches by governments and stakeholders, thereby strengthening the capacity to effect.
He added that the PB committee on animal welfare is expected to pass the final draft of the IRRs next month. (JC/LM)
