Cases of animal neglect that have recently drawn public attention – from the abandonment of pet remains entrusted to crematoriums to recurring incidents of animal abuse – underscore the need to strengthen the country’s animal welfare mechanisms.
This was the assessment of Dr. Alicor Panao, an Inquirer data scientist and associate professor at the University of the Philippines, who said recent reports that shocked the public have renewed concerns over how the government protects animals, including pets increasingly regarded as members of the family.
‘These incidents bring into focus the need to strengthen the country’s animal welfare framework, not only by penalizing cruelty but also by ensuring that institutions have the capacity to enforce the law and provide basic services,’ he said as he released a new analysis of animal welfare bills filed in Congress.
Republic Act No. 8485, or the Animal Welfare Act of 1998, as amended by RA 10631 in 2013, provides the legal foundation for animal protection in the country.
However, Panao raised the question: ‘What has Congress done to address its gaps?’