A new ₱10-million first-time allocation for the Animal Welfare Supervision and Accreditation Program made it into the 2026 national budget to professionalize animal welfare enforcement by supporting standards, inspections, and accreditation, Senator Kiko Pangilinan said.
“Layunin ng programang ito ang mapalawak ang pagtingin at pag-alaga sa mga animal rescues o nasa shelters ng makatao at sa ligtas na paraan. Susuportahan nito ang mga legit at gumaganang animal welfare orgs,” the veteran legislator said.
“Susuportahan nito ang mga legit at gumaganang animal welfare orgs.”
Pangilinan, who is a bicam panel member as Vice Chairperson of the Committee on Finance, said the move builds on years of work to strengthen animal welfare protection laws and enforcement.
In 2012, the seasoned lawmaker sponsored the amendment to the Animal Welfare Act of the Philippines which raised penalties for animal cruelty and neglect.
The advocacy runs deep in the senator’s household, as his wife, the Megastar Sharon Cuneta, is a long-time animal welfare advocate, and their family has taken in many rescued pets over the years.
He has worked with the Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) in improving the law, and Cuneta with Pawssion Project in raising funds for rescues. The Megastar’s most recent call is available at https://www.facebook.com/PAWSsionProject/posts/so-much-love-for-the-one-and-only-megastar-sharon-cuneta-%EF%B8%8F3-years-in-a-row-of-wi/1168476865497533/.
“This experience grounds policy debates in everyday responsibility and compassion.”
“This experience grounds policy debates in everyday responsibility and compassion. Kasama ang tamang pangangasiwa at akreditasyon, naaalagaan natin ang mga hayop, nasusuportahan natin ang mga legit na rescuers, at nagiging mas patas at consistent ang pagpapatupad ng batas,” Pangilinan concluded.
