Senator Grace Poe (File photo)
MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Grace Poe was named PETA Asia’s 2024 Person of the Year for her unwavering commitment to improving the lives of animals throughout the Philippines.
In a statement on Friday, the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, otherwise known as PETA, said Poe was chosen to be their Person of the Year in the Philippines as the lawmaker has been actively pushing for a landmark bill that will ensure the well-being of animals.
PETA Asia was pertaining to Senate Bill No. 2458, the Revised Animal Welfare Act, which intends to combat the homeless animal overpopulation crisis by allocating vital government funding for no-cost sterilization services.
“The bill would also provide funding for disaster relief efforts for animals, bolster animal welfare standards and enforcement, strengthen penalties for violators, and allow officials to deputize trained volunteers as Animal Welfare Enforcement Officers to assist in the rescue of abused, neglected, and otherwise mistreated animals,” said the organization.
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According to PETA Asia, Poe herself invited its organization to collaborate with her animal welfare agenda as part of her technical working group.
This particularly allowed PETA Asia to “propose an amendment banning the import of elephants into the Philippines—which would spare the animals from languishing in the misery and loneliness of captivity.”
In the same statement, PETA Asia Senior Vice President Jason Baker emphasized that animals nationwide have a “tireless champion” in Poe who has “put their needs front and center in the Senate.”
“PETA Asia is delighted to honor Sen. Grace Poe as our 2024 Person of the Year, and urges everyone to follow her lead by speaking up for animals in need and always spaying or neutering companion animals,” said Baker.
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PETA Asia said there are about 12 million homeless cats and dogs in the Philippines — many of which struggle to survive on the streets where they often go hungry, get injured, or killed.
Poe said she is deeply honored and humbled to be awarded PETA Asia Person of the Year for 2024.
“Our spay-and-neuter advocacy is a key component of our Senate Bill No. 2458 or the Revised Animal Welfare Act, which we hope will be passed into law soon. These services should be made accessible and affordable, if not free, to pet owners,” Poe said in a statement Friday.
“As one advocate had said, it takes nothing away from humans to be kind to animals. Breathing compassion for our furry friends is a lifetime cause,” she added.