For many veterinary clinic owners, understandable ang reaction:
“Isa na namang inspection?”
May BAI na. May business permit. May fire and sanitary requirements. May BIR, PTR, PRC license, at kung anu-ano pang compliance.
Tapos may inspection pa from the PRC Professional Regulatory Board of Veterinary Medicine.
Parang overkill.
Pero technically, magkaiba ang tinitingnan nila.
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PRC REGULATES THE PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE
Under RA 8981 and RA 9268, PRC and the PRB of Veterinary Medicine have authority to monitor the practice of the profession and inspect establishments where veterinarians practice.
Kaya maaaring tingnan ang professional credentials, PRC registration, qualifications of staff, duties and responsibilities, at compliance with professional standards.
BAI REGULATES THE ANIMAL FACILITY
Under the Animal Welfare Act, veterinary clinics and hospitals fall under BAI regulation. Dito mas pumapasok ang animal welfare, housing, sanitation, facilities, equipment, and whether the establishment is appropriate for keeping and treating animals.
LGU REGULATES THE BUSINESS ESTABLISHMENT
The business or mayor’s permit deals with whether the clinic may legally operate within the city or municipality, together with requirements involving zoning, sanitation, fire safety and other local regulations.
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SO VERY SIMPLY:
- PRC: Tama ba ang professional practice?
- BAI: Compliant ba ang animal facility?
- LGU: Legal bang mag-operate ang business dito?
Magkaiba ang mandate.
BUT HERE IS THE PROBLEM
Pero ito ang problema.
Magkaiba nga ang mandate, pero pare-pareho ang clinic na iniinspect.
The same PRC ID.
The same veterinarian.
The same staff.
The same building.
The same organizational chart.
The same documents, submitted repeatedly to different government offices.
So yes, there is a legal basis for these inspections.
But there is also a legitimate question:
Kailangan ba talagang paulit-ulit ang proseso?
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COORDINATION, NOT REMOVAL OF REGULATION
Interestingly, PRC Resolution No. 1471, Series of 2021 itself encourages inter-agency coordination and convergence in inspection and compliance requirements.
Meaning, the idea of PRC, BAI and other agencies coordinating is not unreasonable at all.
Perhaps this is what the veterinary profession should push for.
Not the removal of regulation, but harmonization of regulation.
- One standardized set of basic documents.
- Recognition of inspection findings from another government agency where appropriate.
- Clear veterinary-specific inspection checklists.
- Risk-based inspections instead of treating every compliant clinic as if it were starting from zero every time.
This is also consistent with the intent of the Ease of Doing Business Act, which aims to simplify government procedures and reduce unnecessary regulatory burden.
REGULATION IS NECESSARY. DUPLICATION IS ANOTHER MATTER.
Regulation is necessary.
Animal welfare must be protected.
Professional standards must be protected.
The public must be protected.
But government agencies should also recognize that veterinarians are already spending considerable time complying with multiple regulators.
Different mandates are understandable.
Repeating the same paperwork over and over again is another matter.
Maybe what we need is not fewer standards.
We need fewer duplications.
SOURCES
- Republic Act No. 8981, PRC Modernization Act of 2000
- Republic Act No. 9268, Philippine Veterinary Medicine Act of 2004
- PRC Resolution No. 1471, Series of 2021, Guidelines on Inspection and Monitoring
- Republic Act No. 8485, Animal Welfare Act of 1998, as amended
- Bureau of Animal Industry, Animal Facility Registration and Veterinary Clinic/Hospital Inspection requirements
- Republic Act No. 7160, Local Government Code
- Republic Act No. 11032, Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018
Dr. Geoff Carullo is a Fellow and the current President of the Philippine College of Canine Practitioners.
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