Observations on Philippine Animal Welfare Law

The Philippines is internationally recognized for having some of the most comprehensive environmental laws, such as the Clean Air Act (Republic Act No. 8749), Clean Water Act (Republic Act No. 9275), and the Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas System Act
(Republic Act No. 11038). These laws highlight the country’s commitment to protecting nature and wildlife. However, despite these strong environmental protections, laws concerning animal rights, particularly those safeguarding domesticated animals such as pets and livestock
have seen little to no significant improvement over the years. While the Animal Welfare Act of 1998 and its amendments have provided a legal framework against animal cruelty, the persistent rise of abuse cases suggests that existing measures namely Republic Act No. 8485,
as amended by Republic Act No. 10631 remain lacking.