Photo credit: Senate PH

The Senate Committee on Finance rolled up its sleeves on October 8, 2024, diving into the nitty-gritty of the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) proposed 2025 budget under the National Expenditure Program. While discussions covered several areas, animal welfare took center stage—a topic close to the hearts of many Filipinos, including advocacy groups like Biyaya Animal Care.

Let’s break it down:
Animal Welfare and Stray Control: Is There Enough Budget?
“Yes po, we included ₱262.7 million,” a representative from the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) confirmed. The allocation covers quarantine services and animal welfare programs.

What exactly does this mean? The budget aims to fund the monitoring and inspection of quarantine sites, not just for African Swine Fever (ASF) but also for other economically important
diseases.

But the bigger question came from Sen. Cynthia Villar: “How about spay and neuter programs?”

Spay, Neuter, and Rabies Control—A Glaring Gap?

Sen. Villar emphasized a critical issue: the uncontrolled growth of stray dog and cat populations, particularly in low-income communities. These animals often end up neglected, increasing the risk of rabies—a treatment that costs a whopping ₱30,000 per case.

“Yung animal welfare usually mga kapon and ligate [spay and neuter],” Sen. Villar noted, pointing out that these are essential to prevent strays from multiplying and posing public health risks.

For rabies control, the DA representative shared that ₱172 million has been earmarked for vaccinations. However, when Sen. Nancy Binay pressed about a dedicated spay-and-neuter program, the BAI admitted, “Medyo limited po tayo... mostly we focus on training LGU veterinarians.”

Senators Push for Actionable Plans

The reliance on LGUs for implementation didn’t sit well with Sen. Villar. “Wag natin asahan ang mga LGUs... Hindi sila gumagawa ng programa,” she said, calling for a revised budget that directly supports spay-and-neuter initiatives.

She stressed the need for the DA to collaborate more actively with NGOs like Biyaya Animal Care, which has been at the forefront of animal welfare efforts. A DA representative agreed, saying they’re already in talks with foundations to help implement such programs.

The Takeaway: A Call for Collaboration

The Senate hearing highlighted the urgent need for a comprehensive animal welfare program, including spay-and-neuter efforts and rabies control. While the budget includes significant allocations, senators urged the DA to take a more hands-on approach and not just rely on LGUs.

As Sen. Villar aptly put it, “Tulong-tulong tayo.” With partnerships between the government, NGOs, and local communities, there’s hope that these programs will gain the traction they need.