FPJ Panday Bayanihan Party-list Rep. Brian Poe is pushing for a more nuanced and responsive Animal Welfare Act in the current 20th Congress.

The rookie lawmaker has filed House Bill (HB) No.1746, dubbed "An Act revising the Animal Welfare Act of the Philippines and creating for purpose the Animal Welfare Bureau under the Department of Agriculture to institutionalize and strengthen its implementation, govern its operation and its enforcement.

Poe's measure imposes a penalty of up to four years of imprisonment and or a fine reaching up to P250,000 on certain offenses, such as cruelty, torture, and maltreatment to animals.

Poe, a "House Hotshots" member, described Republic Act (RA) No. 8485, or the Animal Welfare Act of 1998, as amended by RA No. 10631, as a landmark piece of legislation that introduced the foundational legal framework for the protection of animals in the country.

"However, over two decades since its original enactment, numerous legal, institutional, and practical gaps have emerged in its implementation, signaling the urgent need for a more responsive, comprehensive, and enforceable measure on animal welfare," he wrote in the explanatory note of HB No.1746.

He went on to identify a key flaw of the existing law, which is its failure to define key concepts such as what constitutes an "animal".

It also does not provide standards that vary depending on the type or use of the animal, as well as detailed guidelines for the welfare of animals in different categories, whether kept as pets, raised on farms, used for entertainment, served as working or service animals, or slaughtered for food.

HB No.1746's key feature is the creation of the Animat Welfare Bureau under the Department of Agriculture (DA). Poe said the bureau will help address longstanding shortcomings of the law and institutionalize a more effective and humane system of animal welfare governance in the country.

The bill says it is unlawful for any person to kill an animal, except for catle, pigs, goats, sheep, poultry, rabbits, carabaos, and horses, which are classified as food animals. The killing of pets and non-food animals is strictly prohibited.

"The bill further imposes a clear and categorical prohibition on harmful practices such as dog meat trading and animal fighting, making it unequivocal that these acts are prohibited, regardless of cultural or economic justification," Poe wrote.

"The penalties under RA No.8485 are also outdated and inadequate to deter cruely. This bill updates and scales the penalties to reflect-the severity of violations, including elevated sanctions for syndicates and public officers, and reinstates the imposition maximum penalties for those in positions of responsibility, such as government pound administrators," he further said.

The measure states that It is unlawful for any person to torture, abuse, exploit, or neglect an animal, including failing to provide adequate care, food, water, shelter, or medical attention.

It says no person shall cause or permit an animal to be subjected to cruelty, or use animals on research or experiments not expressly authorized by the Animal Welfare Bureau.

Acts of cruelty include, but are not limited to subjecting animals to physical abuse, neglect and unsafe conditions, deprivation of animal proper care, inhumane killing methods, and unauthorized experimentation.