DA aims to strengthen the enforcement of the animal welfare law through capacitating animal welfare enforcement officers.

 

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — To strengthen the enforcement of animal welfare law in Northern Mindanao, the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-10) helmed by Regional Executive Director Jose Apollo Y. Pacamalan in collaboration with the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) conducted a three-day capability training for Animal Welfare Enforcement Officers (AWEOs) on July 19 to August 2, in this city.

The training aims to capacitate the Philippine National Police workforce, and personnel of the Cagayan de Oro (CDO) City and El Salvador City veterinary offices, and the CDO Animal Welfare Society, Inc. to effectively enforce the R.A. 8485, also known as the “Animal Welfare Act of 1998”.

In her message, DA-10 Regional Technical Director for Research and Regulations, Cora A. Dumayaca encouraged the participants to take active role in strengthening the implementation of their respective office’s regulatory functions, emphasizing the importance of local government units and non-government organizations’ commitment with respect to the enforcement of the animal welfare law.

Marie Shella G. Orinario, DVM, Veterinarian III of the BAI Animal Health and Welfare Division, discussed the salient features of the Act and its revised implementing rules and regulations, emphasizing the need to understand current animal welfare challenges to drive meaningful changes in enforcement practices.

Stressing practical implications of the law, BAI OIC Chief of the Animal Feeds and Veterinary Drugs Control Division Norman B. Tan underscored the critical role of animal welfare in food safety, public health, and disease outbreak prevention.

In said training participants were apprised on the roles of the LGUs under the Act, basic inquest and prosecution procedures, welfare ethics, and hands-on workshops to reinforce the AWEOs knowledge in handling animal cruelty cases.

Upon completion of the training, the participants will be endorsed by the DA-10 Regulatory Division for formal deputation as AWEOs by the PNP Director.

This collaborative undertaking is aligned with the DA’s commitment to uphold public awareness and cooperation with key stakeholders in marking the agency’s commitment for animal welfare advocacy. # (BJCE)