House unanimously passes wildlife conservation bill

Philippine Eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi)  Nino Jesus Orbeta/Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines–The House of Representatives has passed a measure that would provide stronger protection for the country’s wildlife resources and habitat.

House Bill No. 8586, which was approved by unanimous vote on Wednesday, repeals Republic Act No. 9147, or the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act, and establishes a new law that would strengthen the government’s efforts to protect wildlife.

The proposed law prohibits a wide range of activities that harm wildlife, including killing, injuring, capturing, collecting, trading, and transporting wildlife without a permit. It also establishes stricter penalties for wildlife trafficking and laundering.

“If we do not take decisive action now, we risk losing irreplaceable species and ecosystems that have thrived for generations,” Speaker Martin Romualdez said, emphasizing the urgent need for the enactment of the measure.

HB 8586,  a consolidation of 12 bills, also calls for the creation of a new agency, the Wildlife Resources Management Bureau, which will be responsible for implementing the law and enforcing its provisions.

The bill “applies to all wildlife species found in all areas of the country, including exotic species which are subject to trade, are bred or cultured in captivity or propagated in the country.”

Key provisions of the law include prohibitions on injuring wildlife, disturbing habitats, illegal trading, and transporting wildlife without proper permits.

Stringent penalties await those in breach, with the harshest being imprisonment for up to 20 years and/or fines up to ₱2 million. Penalties scale depending on the species and number of specimens involved, with even greater penalties set for large-scale offenses or those committed by a syndicate.

The measure lists the following prohibited actions:

1. Inflicting harm, impairment, or damage to the reproductive system of wildlife;
2. Disturbing or damaging wildlife habitats;
3. Introducing, reintroducing, or restocking wildlife;
4. Engaging or attempting to trade in wildlife, its by-products, and derivatives;
5. Collecting, hunting, or possessing wildlife and related products;
6. Destroying active nests, nest trees, or host plants;
7. Maltreating or causing harm to wildlife;
8. Transporting wildlife without necessary permits, clearances, or agreements; and
9. Engaging in wildlife laundering.

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