Senators allowed pet dogs in session hall on Tuesday, March 19, in a bid to make the Senate a pet-friendly building.
Some of the pet dogs invited were survivors of human mistreatment and are now under the care of Biyaya Animal Care.
In her privileged speech, Senator Grace Poe stressed that animal neglect and torture continue despite pets' "worth and value" to human society and "the existence of laws criminalizing cruelty to animals."
"Today, we have here Coffee and Bearbrand. Si Coffee, may taga dito sa ulo. Si Bearbrand naman, naputulan na ng paa at meron ding dala ang Biyaya na naka-wheel chair na sa aso," she said.
Poe mentioned the case of the Philippine Animal Welfare Society which took legal action against the security guard who was caught in a video throwing a puppy off a bridge in Quezon City.
The senator also pointed out that there are 13.11 million stray cats and dogs in the Philippines.
"Buti na lang Mr. President, may ilang animal welfare organization ang handang tumulong at magboluntaryo ng kanilang serbisyo sa iba't ibang munispiyo. Foundation and NGOs such as BIYAYA, CARA, PAWS, AKF, Animal Rescue, PETA Asia, rescuing animals from abuse or injury or neglect. They house them in an animal shelter and provide care while waiting for the potential adapters or furparent. Hindi nga nagbibigay ng gobyerno dito, pera nga nila," she added.
Poe then pushed for the passing of her filed Senate Bill No. 2458 or The Revised Animal Welfare Act.
The senator wants "to fortify the law's animal welfare provisions" and to establish an Animal Welfare Bureau under the agriculture department "for the effective implementation and enforcement of the law."
"It [The Revise Animal Welfare Act] aims to strengthen the countr/s animal welfare standards, policies, rules and regulations, implementation, and enforcement, as well as, provide penalties for violating the Act," she said.
Senate President Juan Miguel 'Migz' Zubiri vowed "to make the Revised Animal Welfare Act a priority measure of the Senate."
