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February 10, 2026 | 1:36pm
MANILA, Philippines — Actress Nadine Lustre and animal welfare advocates joined Rep. Leila de Lima (ML Party-list) on Tuesday, February 10, in filing two bills at the House of Representatives seeking to strengthen animal welfare laws and establish a plant-based health advocacy program.
De Lima filed House Bills 7696 and 7697 — the Animal Welfare Enforcement Act and the Gulay para sa Kalusugan at Kalikasan Act. She also filed House Resolution 748, which calls for a congressional inquiry into the country's existing environmental challenges.
The proposed Animal Welfare Enforcement Act, specifically, mandates the creation of Animal Welfare Desks in police stations, staffed by trained animal welfare officers, to serve as a dedicated reporting mechanism for animal-related offenses.
It also seeks to institute an Animal Welfare Ombudsman Unit under the Philippine National Police (PNP), which would be tasked with overseeing the effective implementation of animal welfare laws.
Under the bill, authorities would be required to respond to imminent threats to animals within 12 hours, including conducting rescues, preserving evidence and initiating preliminary fact-finding investigations.
Meanwhile, the proposed Gulay para sa Kalusugan at Kalikasan Act's goal is to promote healthier and more sustainable eating habits that encourage the consumption of native vegetables. It also aims to reduce the risk of non-communicable diseases and help lower greenhouse gas emissions.
"Shifting food systems towards plant-based, vegetable-rich diets reduces the demand for animal-based foods," the explanatory note read.
The measure also proposes implementing "Halaman Monday," or HALAMONDAY, which would require government offices, public schools and hospitals to offer plant-based meals in their canteens and cafeterias every Monday.
To encourage plant-based diets, the measure also proposes tax incentives, including a zero-rated value-added tax on plant-based meal sales.
The program and public health campaign will be led by the Department of Health, Department of Education, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Environment and Natural Resources and Department of Agriculture.
In an ambush interview, Lustre said the bills would be a "win-win" for Filipinos' health, animals, as well as small entrepreneurs and farmers.
"Finally, we are able to pass these bills because we believe this is a win-win for everyone. It's a win for the Filipino people, it's a win for our health, for our farmers as well, for the small-time Filipino entrepreneurs and for the animals as well," she said.
Entrepreneur Christophe Bariou, who joined Lustre and other advocates in filing the measures, said establishing a plant-based health program would significantly improve the affordability of healthier food options and overall Filipino health, stressing that the country's leading causes of death are non-communicable diseases such as heart disease, diabetes and cancer.
Other groups present include People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS), Animal Kingdom Foundation, CARA Welfare Philippines and Biyaya Animal Care.
For the bills to pass Congress, they must go through committee deliberations, second and third readings, before they can be implemented.
"Mga ganitong panukalang batas hindi dapat isinasantabi. Dapat binibigyan din ng atensyon ng Kongreso," De Lima said. (Such bills should not be set aside. They should also receive attention from Congress.)
