Senator Grace Poe called on the Department of Agriculture (DA) to take an active role in crafting policies and programs to promote animal welfare in the country.

Poe recently filed Senate Bill No. 2458 which seeks to strengthen animal welfare standards, policies, rules and regulations, implementation and enforcement, and provide tougher penalties to violators.

The measure proposes to create an Animal Welfare Bureau (AWB) that will have city, municipal, provincial, and regional offices. The proposed body will be placed under the DA.

"Basically, you will form a policy, and in every local government there should be an animal rights council," Poe told Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. when he recently faced the Commission on Appointments.

"Iyong ibang local governments meron silang dog pounds pero hindi naman talaga naaalagaan ang mga aso (There are other local governments who have dog pounds but are not even taking care of the dogs)," she added.

Poe said that under her bill, the DA through the AWB, will be tasked to monitor the compliance of local governments on animal welfare programs, standards, rules and regulations.

The AWB will also implement a system for inspection of animal facilities to ensure adherence to animal welfare standards and regulations.

It will also provide the minimum standards on the appropriate food, water, and shelter for each species of pet and animals depending on the age, breed, size, and special needs of the animals.

"Hopefully, we will get the cooperation of the DA in pushing for the bill because it's the agency that will be at the helm of implementation," Poe said.

The senator said that various groups, including animal welfare advocates, have expressed support for the passage of the strengthened Animal Welfare Act.

"Maraming hayop ang hindi naaalagaan nang tama, pero tandaan natin, nakikita sa pagtrato natin sa mga hayop, mga bata, mga mahihina, mga pinaka-walang karapatan kung anong klaseng lipunan meron tayo (There are lot of animals not being taken care of right, but let's remember, the way we treat animals, children, those who are vulnerable, those without rights reflects the kind of society we have)," Poe said.