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 Francis “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 (This program would start expand the program that looks after rescued and sheltered animals, while also backing legitimate and functional welfare organizations on the ground),” he said.
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 senator 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 Pangilinan 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.
Pangilinan 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/.
“Binabalik tayo sa lupa ng mga karanasang ito tuwing may policy debate — binabalik sa araw-araw na responsilidad at pagmamahal. 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 (This experience grounds policy debates in everyday responsibility and compassion. With proper supervision and accreditation, we protect animals, support credible rescuers, and make enforcement fair and consistent),” Pangilinan said.