HUMAN BARRIERS IN ADVOCATING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE

ANIMAL WELFARE ACT

In Partial Fulfillment for the Requirement in Contemporary Issues

Submitted by
Athena Courage S. Antequisa
Grade 10 – Phi

Submitted to
Ma’am Evedanie Beldad

Date
January 7, 2019
 Table of Contents

Content Page

Table of Contents…………………………………………………………....i

Abstract……………………………………………………………………..ii

Introduction………………………………………………………………....1

Statement of the Problem…………………………………………...2

Research Methodology……………………………………………………...3

Scope and Limitations………………………………………………4

Findings……………………………………………………………………..5

Results………………………………………………………………5

Discussions…………………………………………………………14

Conclusions…………………………………………………………………16

Bibliography…………………………………………………………...........18

Appendix…………………………………………………………………....19

Survey Questionnaire……………………………………………….19

i
 Abstract

Rights and laws are what have kept the world of humans orderly and humane. They are the

binding words that have kept people in society to be fair and respectful to others’ lives.

Humans are not the only ones who reside on this planet but also animals, however, we see

our rights and their rights as a little bit different.

Many countries have already shown their proper respect to the rights of animals by

implementing the Animal Welfare Act. However, in the Philippines we do have the Animal

Welfare Act of 1998 and it has also actually been amended but, we still do not have the

proper implementation of it. This study aims to know the main reason for why there is a

lack of advocacy for the proper implementation of the Animal Welfare Act in the

Philippines, focusing only on whether it is because of our current economy or our general

perception of animals or if it is because of the lack of awareness about the subject which

explains for the increasing violators.

At the end of this study, the researcher has come to a conclusion that the lack of advocacy

for the implementation of the Animal Welfare Act in the Philippines is mainly due to the

lack of awareness about it.

ii
 Introduction

Humans and animals have already existed together on Earth since way back in time.

However, as human beings evolved, we have also considered ourselves as the top of the

ranks and have treated animals as beings that serve to protect us and satisfy our stomachs.

But, are we really all that different? Yes we are different in biological,

physiological, intellectual and in many other ways, but are our importance and rights as

living and breathing creatures that far apart?

People in many places in the world have already seen animals as beings who also

have their own rights and importance. However, there are still many places that have been

ignoring this subject for a very long time, and one of these places is the Philippines.

Although there are already a lots of laws made for the rights and protection of

animals, the people on the other hand, still seem to see them as insignificant. Even if there

is already a legal punishment for those who violate the rights of animals, there are still

many people here who seem to not get scared of the consequences. Even if it was just a

stray dog wishing to take shelter from the rain, a lot of Filipinos would still treat them

mercilessly and may even try to hit or abuse the innocent animal. All of this may be because

of how our interaction with animals progressed from hunting to domesticating to

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commercializing, or it may also be because of our economic status or many other factors

which will be introduced further in this study.

Listed below are the following questions and subjects that the researcher would like

to touch upon regarding to the study on what human barriers are causing the lack of

advocacy for the implementation of animal rights here in the Philippines.

Statement of the Problem:

1. What is the Animal Welfare Act and how does it work?

2. Does our economy have anything to do with the lack of advocacy towards the

implementation of Animal Welfare Act?

3. Is the general perception and attitude of the public towards animals a factor that

contributes to the lack of advocacy for the implementation of the Animal

Welfare Act?

4. Is the lack of awareness about the Animal Welfare Act a factor that contributes

to the lack of advocacy for the implementation of the Animal Rights Welfare

Act?

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 Methodology

The methods the researcher will be using in this study are Internet-based Research

(using multiple sites and sources), Survey and Interview Methods which will focus on

students from MSU-IIT IDS, NGO’s in Iligan City and people who have street-side food

stalls in Iligan City. Other people to be interviewed / surveyed shall be random and not

specified.

The survey and interview will only be specifying the age and sex of the ones

answering the questions. This is to show if there are any differences in opinions towards

the topic basing on their ages and sex.

Questions used for the survey / interview may have follow-up questions

depending on their answer or depending on who is being interviewed / surveyed. The

purpose for this is to make the data collection and the analysis to be more accurate and

clear for the reader.

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 Scope and Limitations

The collection of data will only be able to rely on the interview and survey results

from people residing in Iligan City. Most of the data about the Animal Welfare Act in the

Philippines will only either be from multiple sites focusing on Animal Rights and Animal

Cruelty in the internet.

Interview and survey results may not be the solid truth and fact due to the lack of

amount of data and number of people being surveyed and interviewed. The results and

discussion may be biased to the data that has been collected and inferred during the study.

The study will only be focusing on the hypotheses where the lack of advocacy for

the implementation of the Animal Welfare Act in the Philippines may either be due to our

economy or due to the general perception of animals for Filipinos or due to the lack of

awareness about the Animal Welfare Act.

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 Results

Online Survey Questionnaire - Tally

1) In any way, are you / have you been made aware of about the Animal Welfare

Act of 1998 here in the Philippines?

a. Yes – |||||-|||||-|||||-||| = 18

b. No – |||||-|||||-|||||-|||||-|||||-|||||-|||||-|| = 37

2) Do you have any pets?

a. Yes – |||||-|||||-|||||-|||||-|||||-|||||-||||-|| = 36

i. If yes, how did you come to have your pets?

1. Through Adoption / Rescue – ||| = 3

2. Received as a Gift – |||||-|||||-|||||-| = 16

3. They were already living in our house – ||||| = 5

4. Through Purchase – |||||-|||||-| = 11

b. No – |||||-|||||-|||||-|||| = 19

i. If no, why?

1. Lack of money – |||| =4

2. No space at home – ||| = 3

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 3. Not allowed – ||||| = 5

a. If not allowed, why?

i. Religion – || = 2

ii. No time / No one to take care of it – ||| = 3

4. Don’t really like the idea of having a pet – | = 1

5. Allergic – |||| = 4

3) (For those who are street vendors or who have “carinderias”)

a. Have you ever encountered stray dogs and cats entering; frequenting; or

sheltering under your roof?

i. Yes – ||||| = 5

1. If yes, how many times would you encounter them on an

average? – Everyday.

2. If yes, what would be the usual reaction of your customers /

buyers? – They’ll either get scared or disgusted.

ii. No – 0

4) What would your initial reaction be if a stray cat or dog (it may be skinny or

wounded, or even just appear normal) approached you or walked near you?

a. Disgust – 0

b. Angry / Mad – ||||| = 5

c. Sad – |||||-|||||-||| = 13

d. Happy – ||| = 3

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 e. Scared – |||| = 4

f. Pity – |||||-|||||-|||||-||||| = 20

g. None – |||||-|||| = 9

5) What would be your next course of action towards the animal?

a. Avoid the animal and walk the opposite way. – |||||-|||||-|||||-|||| = 19

b. Give him / her food. – |||||-|||||-|||||-|||||-|||||-||||| = 30

c. Throw a rock at the animal. – || = 2

d. Shoo him / her away. – ||| = 3

e. Beat him / her. – 0

6) Have you ever used (or have merely thought) of the expression “Animal ka!” /

“Hayop ka!” towards another or to a situation?

a. Yes – |||||-|||||-|||||-|||||-|||||-||||| = 30

i. If yes, in what type of instance or condition have you used it for?

1. When Angered / Annoyed – |||||-|||||-||||| = 15

2. As a Joke / Compliment – |||||-|||||-| = 11

3. As Appreciation – ||| =3

b. No – |||||-|||||-|||||-|||||-|||| = 24

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7) What do your parents or siblings think or feel about animals in general? They

are:

a. Disgusting / Dirty – | =1

b. Annoying / Noisy – ||||| = 6

c. Dangerous / Disease Carriers e.g. Rabies – |||||-|| = 7

d. Merely serve as guards. – |||||-|| = 7

e. Fun to be with. – |||||-|||||-||| = 13

f. Lovely beings deserved to be loved. – |||||-|||||-|||||-|||||-| = 21

g. Not important and should only serve as workers and as a food source for
all of us. – | = 1

8) What do you think about animals?

(This is a summarized version of all the answers.)

Most of the answers said that animals should be treated kindly and should be

respected just like other humans. They should be appreciated because they have

also been a great help to humans. One answer also said that they also hold a big

role in the food chain but they must also not be greedily killed for money.

Another answer is that animals should be loved and protected especially from

vicious and ugly creatures like human beings. There were also a few that said

that animals are not so important for them and are only good for labor and food,

but most of them said that animals are blessings and they are great companions

in life.

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 % O F P E O P L E AWA R E A N D U N AWA R E O F T H E
A N I M A L W E L FA R E A C T I N T H E P H I L I P P I N E S

Aware
33%

Not Aware
67%

The graph shows that there are more people who are unaware about the Animal Welfare

Act in the Philippines than people who are aware.

% O F P E O P L E W H O H AV E A N D D O N ' T H AV E
PETS

Don't Have
35%

Have
65%

The graph shows that many families specifically here in Iligan City still own pets.

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 % O F T H E WAY S H O W P E O P L E I N I L I G A N C I T Y
GET THEIR PET
Adoption Gift Coincidental Purchase

The graph shows that people specifically in Iligan City get their pets mostly as gifts and

that adoption or rescue is not really a popular method of getting a pet here in Iligan.

% OF THE REASONS WHY SOME PEOPLE IN

ILIGAN DON'T OWN A PET
Money Space Religion Time Don't Like Allergic

The graphs shows that one of the main reason why some don’t own pets here in Iligan is

allergies while another is the lack of money to support a pet or the lack of time to take care

of one. Other reasons is because of their religion or the lack of space in their homes.

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 % O F T H E VA R I O U S R E A C T I O N S O F P E O P L E
W H E N S T R AY S A P P R O A C H T H E M
Disgust Angry Sad Happy Scared Pity None

The graph shows that the usual reaction of people when they meet a stray is pity. The

second most common reaction is feeling sad about the stray and the third is actually having

no special reaction towards the animal.

% O F T H E VA R I O U S A C T I O N S S U B J E C T E D T O A
S T R AY W H E N T H E P E O P L E M E E T T H E M
Avoid Feed Throw a rock Shoo Beat

The graph shows that the most common action subjected towards a stray by people in Iligan

is to feed it and the second most common is to avoid it.

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 % O F F E E L I N G S / C O N D I T I O N S T H AT P E O P L E
R E L AT E T O T H E E X P R E S S I O N " A N I M A L K A ! "
Anger Joke Appreciation

The graph shows that most people relate or use the expression “Animal ka!” as a joke and

also as something to say when they are angered.

% OF THE DIFFERNT PERCEPTIONS OF

F I L I P I N O FA M I L I E S T O WA R D S A N I M A L S
Dirty Annoying Dangerous Guards Fun Loveable Unimportant

The graph shows that most Filipino families in Iligan City think of animals as loveable and

some dirty. Some also think of animals as dangerous, annoying or fun to be with. Some

also only think of them as guards or simply unimportant.

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 What is the Republic Act No. 8485? It is an act to promote Animal Welfare in the

Philippines, otherwise known as “The Animal Welfare Act of 1998”. Now what is the

Animal Welfare Act of 1998 as amended and how does it work?

Animal welfare becomes relevant in the global discourse. The welfare of the

animals is both an economic and social concern especially in international trade

requirements and with the increasing public criticism on the need to improve the animal

welfare practices in the country. Considered to be living and sentient, animals deserve

special attention hence, the Animal Welfare Act of 1998 or Republic Act 8485 and then

certain sections of the said law were amended in 2013 through Republic Act 10631.

The enactment of The Animal Welfare Act of 1998, evidently recognizes the

importance of animal welfare in the country. It is the aim of the Act “to protect and promote

the welfare of animals in the Philippines by supervising and regulating the establishment

and operation of all facilities utilized for breeding, maintaining, keeping, treating or

training of all animals either as objects of trade or as household pets”. In 2013, the R.A.

10631, “An Act amending certain sections of Republic Act No. 8485, Otherwise known as

‘The Animal Welfare Act of 1998’” was passed into law. In R.A. 10631, regulations

pertaining to aquatic and marine animals are included. In addition, it included increased

penalties for violations of the law and the deputation of Animal Welfare Enforcement

Officers. The Philippines ranked C amongst 50 countries in the Animal Protection Index

(API). The API is an annual report published online by the World Animal Protection which

establishes a ranking of countries according to their policy and legislation development in

recognizing animal sentience, protecting animals and improving animal welfare.

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 Discussion

The purpose of asking whether the people are informed or aware about the Animal

Welfare Act of 1998 in the Philippines is so that the researcher will be able to know if the

lack of awareness can be a factor to the lack of advocacy for the implementation of the

Animal Welfare Act in the Philippines. The same goes for asking if whether they own a

pet or not, to show if many can afford to have one. This can then be implied that many can

still support the advocacy for the implementation of the Animal Welfare Act.

Another thing that the researcher asked is how they got to have their pets, and this

is to somehow show whether there are many people who are eager and active in protecting

and rescuing animals specifically in Iligan City. The third question and sub-questions that

were specifically for street vendors were asked in order to know how people out in the

public usually show their attitude towards animal, and to see what was considered a normal

reaction from Filipino street vendors towards stray cats and dogs, the same goes for those

who were asked the fourth question. The fifth question has the same objective as the one

before it, it was also to see what was considered a normal thing to do towards animals

specifically strays here in the Philippines.

The sixth and seventh question was intended to show in what circumstance or

feeling do we usually relate the word “Animal” to as Filipinos, as a part of our culture. This

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was to show whether we relate the word “Animal/Hayop” more to a negative feeling rather

than a positive one. The last two questions can also show what the common perception of

Filipinos have towards animals.

Basing on everything that has been gathered, the results show that the biggest factor

that affect the lack of advocacy for the implementation of the Animal Welfare Act in the

Philippines is the lack of awareness about it.

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 Conclusion

The study started with the three hypotheses that (1) the lack of advocacy for the

implementation of the Animal Welfare Act can be due to our economy which may have

left us with no budget to spend for supporting the advocacy of the implementation of the

Animal Welfare Act, (2) the lack of advocacy for the implementation of the Animal

Welfare Act may be due to the lack of awareness about the matter at hand which is why

many people violate the Animal Welfare Act and also which is why there are still many

bystanders for the violators, (3) the last hypothesis is that it can be due to our culture’s

general perception of animals and on how we usually relate them to our feelings and daily

lives.

At the end of the study, the researcher had come to the conclusion that the first

hypothesis may be a factor but not that much because basing on the data, many people like

animals and many of them can afford to raise them or just even donate some money for

supporting the advocacy. However, despite the amount of money they have not many are

willing or even have the sincerity to make an effort to support the advocacy and that is

where one of the problem actually lies on.

For the second hypothesis, the researcher had come to a conclusion that many are

not aware about the Animal Welfare Act and that the number of people unaware greatly

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outnumbers those who are aware and this may be a big factor which causes the increasing

number of violators and the increasing number of people who do not try to help promote

the advocacy.

For the third and last hypothesis, the researcher has found out that most of the elder

generation view animals as more of a food source and means of easy labor, which is

actually depicted through our traditional Filipino ways. Also for the third hypothesis, the

study has also shown that many sometimes relate the word “Animal” to the feeling of anger

or to the word “unimportant” which may tell us that the general perception of animals for

most Filipinos may also be a big factor.

Thus the conclusion that the second and third hypotheses may be one of the factors

why there is a lack of advocacy for the support and protection of the rights of animals.

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 Bibliography

1. (2013) The Philippine Animal Welfare Society – REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8485

Retrieved from: https://www.paws.org.ph/animal-welfare-act-ra-8485.html

2. (2013) The Philippine Animal Welfare Society – REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10631

Retrieved from: https://www.paws.org.ph/ra-10631-amending-certain-sections-of-

ra-8485.html

3. Athena Courage S. Antequisa – (2018) Survey for Term Paper in Social Studies

10: Human Barriers in Advocating the Implementation of the Animal Welfare Act

in the Philippines

Retrieved from:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1X9kvZ0e9KZopnzQyAKQ4urqN9QU4CSc9Jw

2LQ3vIO78/edit#responses

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 Appendix

a. Survey Questionnaire

1) In any way, are you / have you been made aware of about the Animal Welfare

Act of 1998 here in the Philippines?

a. Yes or No

i. If yes, what do you know about it?

2) Do you have any pets?

a. Yes

i. If yes, how many?

ii. If yes, how did you come to have your pets?

1. Through Adoption

2. Received as a Gift

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 3. Through Rescue

4. Through Purchase

b. No

i. If no, why?

1. Lack of money

2. No space at home

3. Not allowed

a. If not allowed, why?

4. Don’t really like the idea of having a pet

5. Allergic

3) (For those who are street vendors or who have “carinderias”)

a. Have you ever encountered stray dogs and cats entering; frequenting;

or sheltering under your roof?

i. If yes, how many times would you encounter them on an

average?

ii. If yes, what would be the usual reaction of your customers /

buyers?

4) What would your initial reaction be if a stray cat or dog (it may be skinny or

wounded, or even just appear normal) approached or walked near you?

a. Disgust

b. Angry / Mad

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 c. Sad

d. Happy

e. Scared

f. Pity

g. None

5) (Follow-up question to #4) What would be your next course of action towards

the animal?

1. Avoid the animal and walk the opposite way.

2. Give him / her food.

3. Pet him / her.

4. Throw a rock at the animal.

5. Shoo him / her away.

6. Beat him / her.

6) Have you ever used (or have merely thought) of the expression “Animal ka!” /

“Hayop ka!” towards another?

a. Yes or No

i. If yes, in what type of instance or situation have you used it

for?

1. When Angered / Annoyed (“Hayop kang animala ka!”)

2. As a Joke / Compliment (“Animala ka nganong gwapa

mn kayka?”) (“Hahaha nabuang, animal mn ka oi”)

3. As Appreciation (“Ayus kaayu imong gihatag animal!”)

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7) What do your parents or siblings think or feel about animals in general? They

are:

a. Disgusting / Dirty

b. Annoying / Noisy

c. Dangerous / Disease Carriers e.g. Rabies

d. Merely serve as guards.

e. Fun to be with.

f. Lovely beings deserved to be loved.

g. Not important and should only serve as workers and as a food source
for all of us.

8) What do you think about animals?

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