Section 5Sec./Art. 5

There is hereby created a Committee on Animal Welfare attached to the Department of Agriculture which shall, subject to the approval of the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, issue the necessary rules and regulations for the strict implementation of the provisions of this Act, including the setting of safety and sanitary standards, within thirty (30) calendar days following its approval. Such guidelines shall be reviewed by the Committee every three (3) years from its implementation or whenever necessary.

The Committee shall be composed of the official representatives of the following:

(1) The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG);

(2) Department of Education, Culture and Sports (DECS);

(3) Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) of the Department of Agriculture (DA);

(4) Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau (PAWB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR);

(5) National Meat Inspection Commission (NMIC) of the DA;

(6) Agriculture Training Institute (ATI) of the DA;

(7) Philippine Veterinary Medical Association (PVMA);

(8) Veterinary Practitioners Association of the Philippines (VPAP);

(9) Philippine Animal Hospital Association of the Philippines (PAHA);

(10) Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS);

(11) Philippine Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PSPCA);

(12) Philippine Society of Swine Practitioners (PSSP);

(13) Philippine College of Canine Practitioners (PCCP); and

(14) Philippine Society of Animal Science (PSAS).

The Committee shall be chaired by a representative coming from the private sector and shall have two (2) vice-chairpersons composed of the representative of the BAI and another from the private sector.

The Committee shall meet quarterly or as often as the need arises. The Committee members shall not receive any compensation but may receive reasonable honoraria from time to time.