Governor Pamela Baricuatro marked her first 100 days in office with a significant policy milestone through the signing of Executive Order No. 59, creating the Provincial Animal Welfare Council (PAWC) and institutionalizing programs on animal welfare, rabies control, and marine life conservation in the Province of Cebu.
While much of the latter part of her first 100 days has been devoted to leading relief and rehabilitation efforts in earthquake-hit northern Cebu, the issuance of EO 59 underscores her administration’s commitment to long-term, sustainable governance that promotes both human and animal welfare.
“The Province recognizes the urgent need to institutionalize measures for animal welfare, regulate and monitor LGU dog pounds, strengthen rabies vaccination and dog population control programs, establish sanctuaries for animals, provide necessary logistical support, and promote the conservation of marine life resources,” the order states.
Under the EO, the PAWC will serve as the primary policy-making, coordinating, and monitoring body for all animal welfare and marine conservation initiatives in Cebu. The council is chaired by the Governor and vice-chaired by the Provincial Veterinarian, with members including the chairperson of the Provincial Board’s Committee on Agriculture—currently Board Member Cesar Baricuatro—as well as city and municipal Agriculture and Veterinary Offices, accredited animal welfare and rescue organizations, and a representative from a veterinary college.
The council is tasked with developing and updating comprehensive policies and programs on animal welfare, rabies control, and marine life protection, in alignment with national and local standards. It will monitor the compliance of local government units (LGUs) with laws and ordinances on animal care, pound management, and rabies prevention, while providing technical guidance to ensure humane treatment and care of animals.
A key component of EO 59 is public education and awareness. The PAWC is mandated to lead sustained information campaigns on responsible pet ownership, animal welfare laws, rabies prevention, and marine conservation through seminars, media campaigns, and community outreach. The council is likewise empowered to assist in the rescue, rehabilitation, and adoption of abused, abandoned, or stray animals in collaboration with accredited organizations.
EO No. 59 also provides for the establishment of provincial animal and dog sanctuaries to serve as safe shelters for rescued or impounded animals. These sanctuaries will be managed by the Provincial Government, in partnership with animal welfare organizations under the technical supervision of PAWC, ensuring adherence to humane standards of care and rehabilitation.
To enforce compliance, all LGUs are directed to maintain humane and properly managed dog pounds. The Provincial Veterinary Office, in coordination with PAWC, will conduct regular inspections and require quarterly reports from local governments.
The EO, likewise, strengthens rabies vaccination and dog population control programs, institutionalizing annual mass vaccination drives and a sustained spay-and-neuter program as humane population management strategies.
The Province will allocate funds for the procurement of feeds, veterinary medicines, vaccines, and other logistical requirements to support rabies control, animal rescue operations, spay-neuter programs, and marine mammal rehabilitation.
Beyond land-based animal welfare, Governor Baricuatro’s order also prioritizes marine conservation. The PAWC, in coordination with the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) and national agencies such as DENR-BMB, DA-BFAR, and the Philippine Coast Guard, is directed to enhance protection and conservation measures for marine species — including thresher sharks, marine mammals, and other threatened aquatic wildlife.
Through Executive Order No. 59, Cebu becomes one of the few provinces in the country to institutionalize animal welfare and marine conservation under a unified policy framework, reflecting the Capitol’s broader vision of a compassionate, sustainable, and ecologically responsible Cebu. |𝑪𝑨𝑷𝑰𝑻𝑶𝑳 𝑷𝑰𝑶, 𝑭𝑰𝑳𝑬 𝑷𝑯𝑶𝑻𝑶𝑺
