The Department of Agriculture should take an active role in making policies and programs for the promotion of animal welfare in the country, Senator Grace Poe said as she filed measures on strengthening animal welfare standards nationwide.

Senate Bill 2458 or the Animal Welfare Act is seeking tougher animal welfare standards, policies, rules and regulations, implementation, and enforcement. 

It also pushed for the imposition of stricter penalties on violators of the animal welfare measure. 

Poe told Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. that the measure proposed the creation of an Animal Welfare Bureau 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," she noted. 

Poe lamented that some local government units operate pound dog centers but do not properly take care of the animals.

"Iyong ibang local governments meron silang dog pounds pero hindi naman talaga naaalagaan ang mga aso," she said. 

Hence, the bill she said, will task the DA through the AWB, "to monitor the compliance of local governments on animal welfare programs, standards, rules and regulations."

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

It will likewise provide the minimum standards on the appropriate food, water, and shelter for each species of pet and animal 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, adding that various groups, including animal welfare advocates, have already expressed support for the passage of the strengthened Animal Welfare Act.