Animal welfare advocates and stakeholders gathered to discuss the Rules and Regulations on the Registration of Animal Facilities and the Conduct of Scientific Procedures using Animals.
To strengthen the implementation of the Animal Welfare Act, AO No. 04 and AO No. 40 which both focus on the rules and regulations on registration of animal facilities and conduct of scientific procedures using animals, respectively, the Cordillera office of the Regulatory/ Livestock Division of the Department of Agriculture (DA) hosted a seminar at the DA-Conference Hall at the BPI Compound, Baguio City last Thursday May 11, 2017.
The activity was organized under the Regulatory Division and Dr. Janice Garcia and Dr. Glenn Reyes of the Animal Health and Welfare Division (AHWD) of the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) discussed the aforementioned administrative orders.
A total of over 40 participants came from the academe (Saint Louis University, Ifugao State University, Benguet State University, and Pines City Colleges), the local governments of Benguet and Abra, and the provincial veterinary offices of Benguet, Baguio , Mountain Province, and Kalinga.
Also in attendance were representatives from the City Veterinary Office of Tabuk City, Kalinga, Cordillera Animal Protection Advocates ( CAPA), Baguio Animal Welfare (BAW), owners of veterinary clinics, BSU veterinary teaching hospital and staff.
The attendees were informed of the April 8, 2015 memorandum from the Chairperson of the Commission on Higher Education Patricia B. Licuanan which stated that pursuant to the Animal Welfare A.O. No. 40 s. 1998, all higher education institutions (HEIs) are reminded that when they conduct research and scientific procedures using animals, they must register their animal laboratory facility. The establishment of an Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) and the acceptability of an Animal Care and Use Program are also made mandatory as requirements for the issuance of permit to conduct those researches.
The stakeholders then deliberated on their roles according to the guidelines set by the said AO where issues and concerns on the application for authorization process were raised, tackled and clarified.
One faculty member of the BSU Nursing department said, “This is a very useful seminar where we can see the new updates and requirements on the rules on experimentation on animals. It is mandatory for our 3rd and 4th year nursing students also to have a seminar similar to this and be able to comply with the requirements.”
At the end of the session, although the participants still seemed overwhelmed by the many requirements set forth by the A.O. 40, and A.O. 04, Ms. Marietta Blanco and Dr. Janice Garcia assured them the process shall be as smooth as possible with proper coordination from the endorsing party of the DA Regulatory/ Livestock Division and the BAI Animal Health and Welfare Division.
By Khey Rea K. Capuyan
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