By Jojo Mangahis
Agriculture Secretary William Dar warned hog raisers for their possible violation of Republic Act 8485 or the Animal Welfare Act for not only denying competent care for their dead pigs but for even mishandling them.
Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar appealed to backyard hog raisers to report sick and dead pigs to their municipal or city veterinarians who will undertake proper coordination with the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Animal Industry (DA-BAI) and establish the cause of illness or death.
The secretary’s appeal was in reaction to the recent spotting of dozens of dead hogs afloat in the Marikina River and a Quezon City creek.
“It was utterly irresponsible on the part of the backyard raisers as they did not only violate current laws, but their misdoing also spread the disease pathogens much faster,” Dar stressed.
Dar cited hog raisers for their possible violation of Republic Act 8485 or the Animal Welfare Act for not only denying competent care for their dead pigs but for even mishandling them.
Animals which are in poor health are entitled to proper and competent treatment, and that in case of death, protocols have to be followed, according to DAR.
Punishment for violating RA 8485 could either be imprisonment between six months to two years or a fine amounting to a minimum of P1,000 to a maximum of P5,000.
On top of that violation, the backyard owner also violated RA 9003 or the Solid Waste Management Act “as they brazenly and irresponsibly dumped dead pigs in public places like waterways,” Dar added.
Meanwhile, punishment for violating RA 9003 could be a fine in the amount between P300 to P1,000 or deliver community service for at least one day to a maximum of 15 days.
Dar stressed, “The irresponsible dumping of dead pigs simply adds scare to the public, and this should not be tolerated.”