Begun and held in Metro Manila on Monday, the twenty-eight day

of July, Two thousand three.

[ REPUBLIC ACT No. 9268 ]

AN ACT TO REGULATE THE PRACTICE OF VETERINARY

MEDICINE IN THE PHILIPPINES REPEALING FOR
THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 382 AND FOR
OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:

ARTICLE I
TITLE AND POLICY AND DEFINITION OF TERMS

SEC. 1. Title – This Act shall be known as “The Philippine Veterinary Medicine
Act of 2004”.

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy – It shall be the policy of the State to upgrade the
practice of veterinary medicine in the Philippines for the purpose of protecting the
animal population in the country through safe and proper diagnosis, treatment, and
surgery of these animals. The State recognizes the important role of veterinarians in
nation building and promotes the sustained development of veterinarians whose
competencies has been validated by honest and credible licensure examination and
whose standards of professional practice and service are world-class and internationally
recognized.

SEC. 3. Objectives – This Act provides for and shall govern:

(a) The Administration and conduct of licensure examination, registration and

licensing of veterinarians

(b) The supervision and regulation of the practice of veterinary medicine;

(c) The integration of veterinarians under the existing accredited professional

association; and
(d) The development of the professional competence of veterinarians through
continuing professional education. (CPE) in accordance with the guidelines set by
the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC).

SEC. 4. Definition of Terms.

(a) “Veterinarian” is a natural person who has been registered and issued a valid
Certificate of Registration and Professional Identification Card by the Professional
Regulatory Board of Veterinary Medicine in accordance with this Act.

(b) “Accredited Professional Organization” refers to the professional organization of

veterinarians accredited by the Board and the Commission.

ARTICLE II
PROFESSIONAL REGULATORY BOARD OF VETERINARY MEDICINE

SEC. 5. Composition of the Board – There shall be created a Professional

Regulatory Board of Veterinary Medicine, hereinafter referred to as the Board, under
the administrative supervision and control of the PRC, hereinafter referred to as the
Commission, to be composed of a chairman and two {2} members, who shall be
appointed by the President of the Philippines from among the list of three {3}
recommendees for each position submitted by the Commission from a list of five
{5}nominees for each position submitted by the accredited professional organization of
veterinarians.

SEC. 6. Qualification of Members of the Board – The members of the Board

must: at the time of nomination, recommendation, and appointment;

(a) be a Filipino citizen and a resident of the Philippines for at least five {5} years
immediately preceding nomination, recommendation and appointment;

(b) be of good health, sound mind, and good moral character, and reputation and have
not been convicted by final judgment of any crime involving moral turpitude;

(c) be a registered veterinarian and holder of a valid Certificate of Registration and a

valid Professional Identification Card;

(d) be a member of good standing of the accredited professional organization;

(e) not be a member of the faculty whether full time, part time or as lecturer, of any
school, college or university where a regular course in veterinary medicine is
taught, or be a member of a staff of reviewers in a review school or center and not
have any direct or indirect pecuniary interest in any such institution;

(f) have practiced veterinary medicine for ten {10} years; and

(g) not be an officer of the accredited professional organization at the time of

nomination.

SEC. 7. Terms of Office – The Chairperson and the two {2} members of the
Board shall hold office for a term of three {3} years from the date of their appointment
until their successors shall have been appointed and duly qualified and may be
reappointed once. The member serving the last year of his/her term shall automatically
become the chairperson of the Board. Vacancies in the Board shall be filled for the
unexpired portion of the term only. Each member shall take the proper oath prior to
assumption of duty. Upon effectivity of this Act, the incumbents whose term have not yet
expired or who are holdover status shall be allowed to serve the unexpired portion of
their terms.

SEC. 8. Powers, Functions, Duties and Responsibilities of the Board. – The

Board shall have the following specific powers, functions, duties and responsibilities:

(a) Enforce, administer, and implement the provisions of this Act;

(b) Determine and evaluate the qualifications of the applicants for examination,
registration and for issuance of Certificates of Registration and Professional
Identification Cards and/or special permits pursuant to provisions of this Act;

(c) Prepare, adopt, issue or amend the syllabi for the subjects in the licensure
examination, in consultation with the Commission on Higher Education, the
academe and the accredited professional organization;

(d) Register successful examinees in the licensure examination and issue the
corresponding Certificates of Registration;

(e) Enroll in the registry book of veterinarians the names of successful examinees and
to issue Certificates of Registration and Professional Identification Cards;

(f) Prescribe guidelines providing for the continuing professional education (CPE)
program for registered and licensed veterinarians upon recommendation of the
accredited professional organization of veterinarians;

(g) Revoke Certificates of Registration of or suspend registered and licensed

veterinarians from the practice of his/her profession or to cancel special temporary
permits after due notice and hearing;

(h) Adopt and administer a Code of Ethics and a Code of Technical Standards for
Doctors of Veterinary Medicine;

(i) Hear or investigate on its own or by delegation to a board member and a legal
hearing officer of the Commission cases arising from violations of this Act, the
Rules and Regulations, Code of Ethics and Code of Technical Standards issued
thereunder and, in connection therewith, to issue subpoena ad testificandum and
subpoena duces tecum to alleged violators or witnesses to compel their
attendance and the production of documents;
(j) Look into the conditions affecting the practice of veterinary medicine in the
Philippines, adopt measures for the enhancement of the profession maintenance
of high professional, technical and ethical standard of the profession;

(k) Recommend to the CHED in coordination with the accredited professional

organization to the prescribing, amending, and/or revising the collegiate course
leading to the degree of Doctor of Veterinary Medicine;

(l) Adopt the official seal of the Board;

(m) Promulgate such rules and regulations or administrative orders and issuances as
may be necessary to properly and fully carry out the provisions of this Act; and

(n) Perform such other functions and duties as may be necessary to implement this
Act.

The policies, resolutions, and rules and regulations issued or promulgated by the
Board shall be subject to review and approval of the Commission. However, the Board’s
decisions, resolutions or orders which are not interlocutory, rendered in an
administrative case, shall be subject to review only if on appeal with the
Commission. The decision of the Board and/or the Commission may be appealed to
the Court of Appeals in accordance with the Rules of Court.

SEC. 9. Compensation and Allowances of the Board – The chairman and

members of the Board shall receive compensation and allowances comparable to the
compensation and allowances received by existing regulatory boards under the
Commission as provided for in the General Appropriations Act.

SEC. 10. Removal of Board Members – The chairman and members of the
Board may be removed from office by the President of the Philippines, upon
recommendation of the Commission on the following grounds:

(a) Neglect of duty;

(b) Incompetence;

(c) Violation of Republic Act No. 6713, otherwise known as “The Code of Counduct
and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees,” and “The Code of
Ethics of the Veterinary Medicine Profession.”;

(d) Manipulation or rigging of the licensure examination results,

(e) Disclosure of the examination questions or similar secret information;

(f) Tampering of the grades therein; and

(g) Final conviction by the court of criminal offense involving moral turpitude.

SEC. 11. Administrative Supervision of the Board, Custodian of its Records,

Secretariat and its Support Services - The Board shall be under the administrative and
executive management of the Commission. All records of the Board, including
applications for examinations, minutes of deliberation, administrative and other
investigative cases shall be under the custody of the Commission. The Commission
shall designate the Secretary of the Board and shall provide the secretariat and support
services to implement the provisions of this Act.

SEC. 12. Annual Report - The Board shall, after the close of the fiscal year,
submit annual report to the Commission giving a detailed report of the activities and
proceedings of the Board during the year and embodying such recommendations as the
Board may desire to make.

ARTICLE III
EXAMINATION AND REGISTRATION OF VETERINARIANS

SEC. 13. Examination Required – Except as otherwise specifically allowed

under the supervision of this Act, all applicants for registration as veterinarians shall be
required to undergo and pass an examination to be given by the Board, through the
Commission, in such places and dates as the Commission may designate in
accordance with Republic Act 8981, subject to compliance with the requirements
prescribed by the Commission.

SEC. 14. Subjects Covered by the Examination – The subjects for the licensure
examination shall cover the following:

(1) Veterinary Parasitology;

(2) Veterinary Pharmacology;

(3) Veterinary Medicine (including Ethics, Surgery, Animal Welfare and

Jurisprudence);

(4) Zootechnics (including Animal Behavior and Environmental Health);

(5) Veterinary Microbiology and Veterinary Public Health;

(6) Veterinary Physiology;

(7) Veterinary Anatomy; and

(8) Veterinary Pathology.

The Board may amend, modify or exclude any of the subjects in the syllabi and
add new ones as technological need arises subject to the approval of the Commission.

SEC. 15. Qualifications of Applicant for Examination – In order to qualify for

examination, an applicant shall establish to the satisfaction of the Board that:

(a) he/she is a citizen of the Philippines or a foreigner whose country has reciprocity
with the Philippines in the practice of veterinary medicine;

(b) he/she is in good health and moral character, and sound mind;

(c) he/she has not been convicted by final judgment of an offense involving moral
turpitude by a competent court; and

(d) he/she is a holder of a Degree of Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from an accredited

College of Veterinary Medicine by the Commission on Higher Education.(CHED);

SEC.16. Report of Ratings - The Board shall within ten {10} days or earlier after
the date of completion of examination, report the rating obtained by each candidate to
the Commission for official release and publication.

SEC. 17. Ratings in the Examination - In order to pass the examination, a

candidate must obtain a weighted average of at least seventy-five percent {75%} with
no rating below sixty percent {60%} in any subject. A candidate who obtains an
average rating of seventy-five percent {75%} or higher but gets a rating below sixty
percent {60%} in any subject shall be allowed to take a re-examination in only those
subjects in which he/she obtained a rating below sixty percent {60%}. Should he/she
fail to obtain seventy-five percent {75%} in the reported subject or subjects, his/her
examination shall be considered failed, and he/she is required to take all the subjects in
the next examination.

SEC. 18 Issuance of Certificate of Registration and Professional Identification

Card - A Certificate of Registration as a veterinarian shall be issued to an applicant who
passes the examination or who is registered without examination and shall indicate the
full name of the registrant, serial number, date of issuance bearing the signature of the
Commission Chairperson and the chairman and members of the Board, with the official
seal of the Board and Commission.

A Professional Identification Card bearing the registration number, date of

issuance, expiry and date, duly signed by the Commission Chairperson, shall likewise
be issued to every registrant who has paid the prescribed fee.
 SEC. 19. Fees for examination, Registration and License - Applicants for
examination and registration and for the renewal of professional license shall pay the
fees prescribed by the Commission.

SEC. 20. Oath. – All successful examinees and registrants without examination
shall be required to take a professional oath before any member of the Board or any
official authorized by the Commission or any government official authorized by law
before they start their practice.

SEC. 21. Refusal to Register – The Board shall refuse to register an applicant as
a veterinarian and to issue his/her Certificate of Registration and Professional
Identification Card if she/he is convicted of any criminal offense involving moral
turpitude or found guilty of immoral or dishonourable conduct, or he/she is declared by
the court to be of unsound mind or violated the Animal Welfare Act. The Board shall
furnish the applicant a written statement setting forth the reasons for its action which
shall be incorporated in the records of the Board.

SEC. 22. Revocation of Certificate of Registration and Suspension from the

Practice of Veterinary Medicine and Cancellation of Special Permit - The Board shall
have the power to reprimand or suspend any person from the practice of veterinary
medicine, to revoke the Certificate of Registration of a registered veterinarian, or cancel
a special permit issued upon any of the grounds:

(a) any of the causes mentioned in Section 21;

(b) nprofessional and unethical conduct;

(c) gross incompetence, gross negligence, gross ignorance or malpractice or any

other acts of malpractice resulting in the disability, disfigurement or death of an
animal;

(d) use of fraud, deceit, or false statements in obtaining registrations, Certificate of

Registration, Professional Identification Card, or special permit;

(e) for chronic inebriety or habitual substance abuse;

(f) having professional connection with or lending one’s name to an illegal

practitioner of veterinary medicine;

(g) fraud or dishonesty in applying, teaching or report on any laboratory test and or
research findings;

(h) false misleading advertising, having for its purpose or intent to deception or fraud;

(i) knowingly and deliberately concealing or failing to report as required by law, or

making false reports regarding the spread of contagious or infectious diseases;
(j) violation of the rules and regulations, Code of Ethics, Code of Technical Standards
and other policies of the Board and the Commission issued pursuant to this Act; or

(k) practicing his/her profession during period of his/her suspension from the practice
of his profession.

SEC. 23. Rights of Respondent – The respondent registered veterinarian shall

be entitled to counsel, a speedy public hearing, and to confront and cross-examine
witnesses against him.

SEC. 24. Administrative Investigation - Within five {5} days after filing of written
charges under oath, respondent registered veterinarian shall be furnished a copy
thereof requiring him to answer the same. The administrative investigation shall be
conducted by the Board or any of its members as may be designated by the Chairman
of the Board, legal or hearing officer of the Commission on cases involving the practice
of the profession; Provided, however, that the decision shall be promulgated by the
Board.

SEC. 25 Appeal – The decision on the denial or refusal to issue Certificate of

Registration, the revocation or suspension of the Certificate of Registration, and the
cancellation of special permit by the Board shall be final unless appealed to the
Commission within fifteen {15} days from receipt of the decision. The decision of the
Board and/or Commission may be appealed to the Court of Appeals.

SEC. 26. Reinstatement – Subject to the approval of the Commission, a person

may apply to the Board for reinstatement of his/her Certificate of
Registration/professional license any time after the expiration of one (1) year from the
date of revocation of said certificate. The application shall be in writing and shall
conform to the requirements provided by the Board. No certificate shall be reinstated
unless the Board is satisfied that a good cause exists to warrant such reinstatement.

SEC. 27. Indication of the Certificate of Registration and Professional

Identification Card and Professional Tax Receipts - A registered and licensed
veterinarian shall indicate his/her Certificate of Registration/Professional Identification
Card with date of issue and expiry, the Professional Tax Receipt number, on the
prescription and other documents he/she signs, uses, or issues in connection with the
practice of his/her profession.

SEC. 28. Automatic Registration - All veterinarians whose names appear at the
roster of veterinarians shall be automatically or ipso facto registered as veterinarians
under this Act.
 ARTICLE IV
PRACTICE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE

SEC. 29. Acts Constituting Practice of Veterinary Medicine – A person who is

authorized to practice veterinary medicine under this Act shall append or cause to be
appended to his name the letters D.V.M. (Doctor of Veterinary Medicine), V.M.D.
(Veterinary Medical Doctor), D.V.S. (Doctor of Veterinary Science), the words
“Veterinarian”, “Veterinary Surgeon”, “Veterinary Dentist”, or ”“Veterinary”, any other
initial or title implying qualification to practice, offer or render, for a fee or otherwise,
services such as:

(a) the examination and/or diagnosis, treatment, surgery of, or the prescribing and
dispensing of any remedy for, any injury to or disease, ailment or deformity of
animals;.

(b) attesting for official or commercial purpose to the health, of any terrestrial,
aquatic, domestic or non-domestic animals;

(c) rendering of veterinary technical services which directly or indirectly affect the
health and welfare of human beings and animals;

(d) attesting to the fitness for human consumption of animal products and by-
products;

(e) holding of any job or position in a public or private entity which requires
knowledge of or skill in veterinary medicine; or

(f) teaching or lecturing of veterinary clinical subjects in the curriculum of the degree
in veterinary medicine;
.
Provided, That the enumeration of the above practices or services in this Section
shall not be construed as excluding any other work requiring knowledge and application
of professional veterinary medicine which the Board may specify, upon recommendation
of accredited professional organization in Veterinary Medicine.

SEC. 30. Unlawful Practice of Veterinary Medicine – It shall be unlawful for any
person to practice veterinary medicine and any of its allied branches, including
veterinary dentistry, without a valid and existing Certificate of Registration and
Professional Identification Card issued by the Board of Veterinary Medicine and the
Commission.

SEC. 31. Foreign Reciprocity – No foreigner shall be admitted to the

examination or be registered as veterinarians under this Act unless he/she that the
country of which he/she is citizen of, either permits Filipino citizens to practice of
veterinary practice without need for registration, without restriction, or allows them to
practice after an examination on terms of strict and absolute equality with nationals of
said country.

SEC. 32. Roster of Veterinarians – The Board shall keep a roster of the names,
residences and office address of all registered and licensed veterinarians. The said
roster shall be made available to the public upon request and payment of prescribed
fees therefor.

SEC. 33. Penal Provision – The following persons shall be punished:

(a) Any person who shall practice veterinary medicine in the Philippines within the
meaning of this Act without a valid Certificate of Registration and a valid
Professional Identification Card or a valid special permit issued in accordance
herewith;

(b) Any person presenting or using as his/her own Certificate of Registration or

Professional Identification Card of another;

(c) Any person who shall give any false or forged evidence of any kind to the Board or
the Commission in obtaining any of the foregoing documents;

(d) Any person who shall falsely impersonate any registrant with like or different name;

(e) Any registered and licensed veterinarian who shall abet or assist illegal practice of
a person who is not lawfully qualified to practice veterinary medicine;

(f) Any person who shall attempt to use a revoked or suspended Certificate of
Registration or an invalid or unexpired Professional Identification Card or a
cancelled special permit;

(g) Any person assuming, using or advertising any title, description tending to convey
the impression that he/she is a registered and licensed veterinarian; or

(h) Any person who violates any provisions of this Act and its rules and regulations
shall, upon conviction, be punished by a fine of not less than Fifty thousand pesos
(P 50,000.00) nor more than One thousand pesos (P100,000.00) or by
imprisonment of not less than one (1) year nor more than five (5) years, or both
fine and imprisonment for each and every offense at the discretion of the court.

SEC. 34. Enforcement – The Commission shall implement the concerned

provisions of this Act, enforce its implementing rules and regulations as adopted by the
Board, and assist the Board in the investigation of complaints against violators of this
Act, its rules and regulations, and other policies of the Board.

The Commission shall call upon or request any department, instrumentality,

office, bureau or agency of the government including local government units to render
such assistance as it may require to coordinate or cooperate in order to carry out,
enforce or implement the provisions of this Act.

SEC. 35. Funding Provision – The Chairperson of the PRC shall immediately
include in the Commission’s programs the implementation of this Act, the funding of
which shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

SEC. 36. Implementing Rules and Regulation - Within sixty (60) days after the
effectivity of this Act, subject to the approval of the Commission, the Board in
coordination with the accredited professional organization, shall promulgate the
necessary rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this Act, which shall be
effective after fifteen (15) days following its publication in the Official Gazette or
newspaper of general circulation.

SEC. 37. Separability Clause – If any part of this Act is declared

unconstitutional, the remaining parts not affected thereby shall continue to be valid and
operational.

SEC. 40. Repealing Clause – Republic Act No. 382 and all other laws, decrees,
orders, circulars, rules and regulations, and other issuances, and parts thereof which
are inconsistent with this Act are hereby superseded, repealed, amended, or modified
accordingly.

SEC. 41. Effectivity – This Act shall take effect thirty (30) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in any newspaper of general circulation..

Approved.

(signed) (signed)
FRANKLIN M. DRILON JOSE DE VENECIA, JR.
President of the Senate Speaker of the House of Representatives

This Act which is a consolidation of House Bill No. 6002 and Senate Bill No.
2578 was finally passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate on January
20, 2004 and January 19, 2004, respectively.

(signed) (signed)
OSCAR G. YABES ROBERTO P. NAZARENO
Secretary of the Senate Secretary General
House of Representatives
Approved: Mar 19, 2004

(signed)
GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO
President of the Philippines