Lawmakers from the Akbayan Partylist have filed a measure seekingtougher animal cruelty law tougher penalties for animal cruelty and a major overhaul of how animal welfare laws are enforced in the Philippines.
House Bill No. 11495, or the proposed Animal Life Advocacy and Guardianship Act or ALAGA Act, seeks to amend the Animal Welfare Act and strengthen accountability for cruelty, maltreatment, neglect and other abuses against animals. The measure was filed with the support of the Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS).
Under the proposed law, cruelty, maltreatment or neglect resulting in an animal’s death would carry imprisonment ranging from one year, six months and one day to three years, along with a fine ranging from ₱100,000 to ₱500,000. Grave injuries would carry imprisonment of one year and one day to one year and six months and fines of ₱50,000 to ₱80,000, while lesser injuries could result in six months to one year in prison and a fine of up to ₱30,000.
The proposal would strengthen penalties under the existing Animal Welfare Act as amended by Republic Act No. 10631. Current law provides up to two years’ imprisonment and/or a fine of up to ₱100,000 when cruelty, maltreatment or neglect results in an animal’s death. Aggravated offenses can carry imprisonment of up to three years and/or a fine of up to ₱250,000.
HB 11495 would also replace the existing Committee on Animal Welfare with a National Commission on Animal Welfare, envisioned as an independent and autonomous quasi-judicial body with rule-making, licensing and enforcement powers and a mandate to help facilitate the prosecution of animal cruelty cases.
Local government units would also be required to strengthen their animal welfare operations and implement Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return programs as a humane method of controlling stray animal populations. The measure would require greater transparency from animal pounds, including publicly accessible impoundment records and stricter standards for the care and release of animals.
The bill further seeks to penalize dog-meat trading, animal fighting and the production or distribution of content depicting intentional animal suffering for entertainment or commercial purposes. It also proposes additional protections for animal rescuers.
HB 11495 also addresses the use of animals in education, including restrictions on animal experimentation and standards intended to reduce unnecessary animal use and suffering.
The measure was authored by Akbayan Representatives Perci Cendaña, Chel Diokno and Dadah Kiram Ismula, together with Dinagat Islands Rep. Kaka Bag-ao.
If passed into law, the ALAGA Act would expand both the penalties and enforcement mechanisms available to authorities handling animal cruelty and neglect cases nationwide.
