These newly filed bills in the House of Representatives advocate for stronger animal welfare protections and the promotion of plant-based meals in public institutions.
Photo: Christophe Bariou/Instagram Story
On February 10, actress Nadine Lustre, entrepreneur Christophe Bariou, and other advocates joined Mamamayang Liberal Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima in filing two measures: House Bill No. 7686, or the Animal Welfare Enforcement Act, and House Bill No. 7697, also known as the Gulay para sa Kalusugan at Kalikasan Act.
The Animal Welfare Enforcement Act seeks to strengthen the enforcement of existing animal welfare laws by establishing animal welfare desks in all police stations nationwide. These desks will be staffed by trained animal welfare officers who will oversee a formal reporting and response mechanism for animal-related offenses.
The bill also proposes the creation of an Animal Welfare Ombudsman Unit tasked with ensuring consistency, accountability, and proper handling of animal cruelty cases.
Photo: Christophe Bariou/Instagram Story
According to Bariou, the measure is crucial in empowering victims and witnesses to report animal cruelty incidents through proper authorities, instead of relying solely on social media for visibility. He added that the bill reinforces public awareness that animal cruelty is a serious crime that should not be ignored.
Meanwhile, the Gulay para sa Kalikasan Act promotes the adoption of plant-based meals across public institutions. The initiative aims to support local farmers, improve food affordability, and encourage healthier and more sustainable eating habits—particularly for those seeking alternatives to meat-based diets.
Photo: Christophe Bariou/Instagram Story
Apart from these two bills, De Lima also filed House Resolution No. 748, which calls for a congressional inquiry into the country’s pressing environmental issues, including deforestation, marine degradation, and pollution. The resolution seeks to assess current environmental policies and push for long-term solutions that protect natural resources and safeguard the well-being of future generations of Filipinos.
Other advocacy-driven organizations present during the filing included Plant Based Treaty Philippines, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), and the Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS), among others.
In a separate Instagram story, Bariou described the three filings as a significant step forward for animal welfare, environmental sustainability, and systemic change.
Photo: Christophe Bariou/Instagram Story
“These three filings may seem humble, but they represent a huge step forward and a real opportunity for all the grassroots activists who worked on them with us. We are deeply grateful to Rep. Leila de Lima for her action, for immediately understanding the importance of these measures, and how they can help all Filipinos, one way or another,” he wrote.
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