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PAWS is lobbying for more humane methods of farming and slaughtering for food.

PAWS’ work in farm animal welfare was mostly rooted in trying to make policy changes as an Institutional Member of the Committee on Animal Welfare (CAW) under the Animal Welfare Act.

The CAW is attached to the Department of Agriculture and draws up the necessary rules and regulations for the strict implementation of the Animal Welfare Act – with particular emphasis on the care of animals used in various industries, “including safety and sanitary standards.”

As a member of CAW since 1998, PAWS has successfully lobbied for more humane methods of farming and slaughter for food animals.

In 2020, PAWS embarked on The Better Chicken Option (TBCO) campaign which focused on urging producers to adopt higher animal welfare standards in raising and farming broiler chickens. The organization conducted webinars for farmers all over the country during the pandemic and engaged the major broiler producers in round-table discussions about the feasibility of slowly incorporating the seven TBCO standards into their farms. These seven standards, namely, space, litter flooring, enrichment, the use of slower-growing chickens, adequate light, rest hours and welfare-friendly stocking densities in chicken enclosures – would involve additional costs but would afford broiler chickens a better quality of life which is important to consumers.

In 2021, PAWS commissioned a study on consumers which revealed that, next to dogs and cats, Filipinos cared about the welfare of chickens more than any other animal. Many consumers were surprised to learn that their food choices affect 1.1B broilers in the Philippines – the number of broilers consumed by Filipinos annually. The same consumer study showed that Filipinos were willing to spend 36% higher to purchase chickens that had experienced a higher level of welfare in terms of being provided with enrichment and more space.

With this information, PAWS was able to engage corporates to sign up to be TBCO restaurant partners like Figaro, Tien Ma’s, Angel’s Pizza and Binalot.

 

In 2022, PAWS, in partnership with World Animal Protection (WAP) then proceeded to launch a model broiler farm at the University of the Philippines-Los Banos. The results of the soon-to-be-published study are expected to convince the major producers to revisit broiler production, marketing systems and existing guidelines on what is considered “good” animal husbandry — and how these existing systems can be further improved. While promoting broiler welfare is the primary goal, this recalibration of systems to be more animal welfare-friendly is seen also to be a big help to the Philippine broiler industry by making it more sustainable and profitable, and potentially competitive in terms of exports to countries that have a high demand for humanely — raised meat.

Aside from its farmed animal welfare projects, PAWS is pushing for the wider distribution of plant-based food alternatives through lobbying with the nation’s lawmakers and collaboration with food technologists based in various universities through its Youth for Animals program. PAWS believes that with the country’s experience with the Covid-19 pandemic and the recent Avian Influenza outbreak which is putting a strain on food security, this is the most opportune time to be pushing harder for improvements in broiler welfare and to promote non-meat protein alternatives.

This year, PAWS has signed on as a member of the Compassionate Choices Network (CCN) organized by ACT Asia. The CCN runs an annual campaign, Plant Forward, which advocates for a plant-based diet and sustainable lifestyle to harness the power of consumers to change food systems in our country and across Asia. PAWS runs Plant Forward- Philippines which has a tagline “Go Gulay!” (Go Vegetables!) – an encouraging cheer for Filipinos to not only eat more vegetables but to try to replace meat dishes with plant-based alternatives for the sake of their health, the planet and animal welfare. The “Go Gulay!” campaign is hoped to increase awareness among Filipinos that they can eat healthy without meat and that flavor will not be compromised when vegetables and plant-based proteins replace meat ingredients in their favorites Filipino dishes.

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