Sen. Francis Kiko Pangilinan said the proposed 2026 national budget includes an initial P10 million allocation for the Animal Welfare Supervision and Accreditation Program, marking the first time funds have been set aside for the initiative. Pangilinan said the amount was approved during bicameral conference committee deliberations on the national spending plan.
According to the senator, the funding is meant to professionalize animal welfare enforcement by establishing clearer supervision and accreditation for organizations involved in animal rescue and shelter operations. He said the program is intended to support legitimate and functional welfare groups working on the ground while improving consistency in enforcement.
Pangilinan said the inclusion of the funds reflects years of effort to strengthen animal welfare protection laws and ensure they are properly implemented. He said accreditation and oversight are expected to help standardize practices, protect animals in care, and provide institutional backing to recognized rescuers.
The senator has been active in animal welfare advocacy, including legislative work with the Philippine Animal Welfare Society, while his wife, Sharon Cuneta, has supported rescue initiatives through fundraising efforts. The budget decision comes amid continued reports of animal cruelty, including recent cases in Mountain Province and Pampanga that prompted investigations and criminal charges by local authorities.
