A common question I receive from colleagues and even from the public is this:
“Pwede bang tabi-tabi ang mga animal clinic?”
“Okay lang ba kung may clinic na 100 meters away?”
The short answer is yes, it can be allowed, but there are important legal and ethical considerations that need to be understood.
The Legal Perspective
In the Philippines, there is no national law that sets a required minimum distance between veterinary clinics.
Neither the Veterinary Medicine Act nor regulations from the Bureau of Animal Industry impose a rule stating that clinics must be a certain number of meters apart. This means:
- A veterinary clinic cannot legally block another clinic from opening nearby
- Distance alone is not a valid legal basis to deny a clinic permit
What actually matters for legality are the following:
- Valid PRC license of the veterinarian
- Business permit from the local government unit
- Barangay clearance
- Zoning compliance
- Environmental and sanitation requirements
- Compliance with animal welfare and public health standards
If a clinic meets all of these, proximity to another clinic is not illegal.
The Role of Local Government Units
While there is no national distance rule, LGUs may impose zoning or land-use restrictions.
For example:
- Residential-only zones may restrict commercial clinics
- Mixed-use areas may allow multiple clinics
- Certain barangays may require community clearance
These rules apply to all businesses, not just veterinary clinics.
The Ethical Perspective
Just because something is legal does not always mean it is ethical.
Ethically, veterinarians are expected to uphold:
- Professional respect
- Fair competition
- Community harmony
Opening a clinic extremely close to another existing clinic may raise ethical concerns if:
- The intent is clearly to undermine another practitioner
- There is deliberate poaching of clients or staff
- There is misinformation or smear campaigns
Ethical practice is not about eliminating competition. It is about competing fairly, based on:
- Quality of service
- Professional competence
- Client education
- Proper pricing and transparency
Healthy competition improves standards.
Hostile competition damages the profession.
From the Client’s Point of View
Clients often worry that multiple clinics close together may cause:
- Confusion
- Distrust
- Perceived oversaturation
However, in reality:
- Clients benefit from choice
- Clinics are encouraged to improve service quality
- Accessibility to veterinary care increases
As long as clinics practice ethically, proximity can actually benefit the community.
The Bottom Line
There is no Philippine law prohibiting veterinary clinics from being near each other
Distance alone is not illegal
LGU zoning rules still apply
Ethical practice matters just as much as legality
The profession grows not by blocking each other, but by raising standards together.
Veterinary medicine is not a turf war.
It is a service to animals, clients, and the community.
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