By Mariela Angella Oladive
The Iloilo City Government officially launched Animal Welfare Desks (AWDs) in all police stations during a ceremonial event on November 22 at Police Station 7 in Tanza, City Proper.
The initiative, in partnership with the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO), is part of the newly enacted Animal Welfare Ordinance and seeks to address complaints of animal cruelty, neglect, and other welfare violations.
Dr. Fernando J. Abulencia, Iloilo City Veterinarian, stated in a local radio interview that the AWDs will be housed in the city’s 10 police precincts. The desks will be staffed by Animal Welfare Enforcement Officers—police officers trained in animal welfare laws and ordinances.
These desks aim to streamline the reporting process for residents with concerns about animal cruelty and welfare issues. They also provide a platform for filing blotters and pursuing legal action related to animal rights violations.
Dr. Abulencia noted that Iloilo City is only the second highly urbanized city in the Philippines to implement this initiative.
Violators of the ordinance face the following penalties:
- PHP 1,000 for the first offense
- PHP 3,000 for the second offense
- PHP 5,000 for the third offense
The ordinance also includes stricter regulations for businesses involved in animal care and expanded efforts to educate the public on animal welfare.
Councilor Miguel Treñas emphasized the need for public awareness on responsible pet ownership, with plans to introduce educational initiatives in schools to instill the importance of animal care among the youth.
“Through our ordinance, we aim to educate people on the importance of vaccinating their pets, cleaning up after them, and providing proper care,” Treñas said.
He added that the ordinance requires pet owners to cover vaccination costs if their dog bites someone and includes plans to visit schools to teach students about proper waste management, pet vaccination, and overall animal care.
