Wednesday, February 21, 2007 Capitol to pass ruling for animal welfare By Ian C. Espada
THE Sangguniang Panlalawigan is set to pass an ordinance to protect and promote animal welfare, pursuant to and in line with the provisions of Republic Act 8485 or the Animal Welfare Act of 1998.
Provincial Veterinary Office head Dr. Silvino R. Tedosio, Jr. said the Committee on Ordinances, Legal Matters and Inter-Government Relations and Committee on Agriculture jointly conducted a committee hearing last February 13 to draft the said ordinance.
He said the ordinance, entitled "An Ordinance to Protect and Promote Animal Welfare Pursuant to and in line with the Provisions of RA 8485 or the Animal Welfare Act of 1998," if passed, will give Iloilo province the distinction of being the first province in the whole country to have passed an ordinance aimed at protecting and promoting animal welfare.
Teodosio said under the proposed ordinance, it shall be 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 expressly authorized by the Committee on Animal Welfare.
He added under the proposed ordinance, the killing of dog is considered unlawful, except when it is done as part of a religious ritual of an established religion or sect or a ritual by tribal or ethnic customs of indigenous cultural communities.
The tribal leader, however, is required to record and report the ritual to their Barangay Captain and the latter will submit a monthly report thereof to the City/Provincial Veterinarian; when the pet animal is afflicted with an incurable communicable disease as determined by a licensed veterinarian; when the killing is deemed necessary to put an end to the misery suffered by the animal and certified by a duly licensed veterinarian; when it is done to prevent an imminent danger to the life and limb of human being; when done for the purpose of animal population control; when animal is killed after it has used in an authorized research or experiments; and, any other ground analogous to the foregoing as determined by a licensed veterinarian.
Teodosio said the Sangguniang Panlalawigan plans to enact this ordinance because the Philippines is one of the signatories to the groundbreaking of the Universal Declaration on Animal Welfare in San Jose, Costa Rica and recognizes that "animals are living, sentient being and therefore deserve due considerations and respect."
He added its principles declare that animal welfare "shall be a common objective for all nations" and that "all appropriate steps shall be taken by nations to prevent cruelty to animals and to reduce their sufferings."
