Effective laboratory animal facility management is essential in ensuring both scientific integrity and animal welfare. In the Philippine context, where laboratory animal science is still evolving, many institutions face challenges such as limited infrastructure, inconsistent operational standards, under-trained personnel, and constrained budgets. Yet, adopting best practices in facility management—customized to local capacities—can significantly improve research quality, regulatory compliance, and ethical oversight. This presentation explores practical, adaptable approaches to managing laboratory animal facilities in the Philippines, with a focus on sustainability, animal care, biosecurity, and institutional governance.

• Introduce globally recognized best practices in laboratory animal facility management.

• Identify challenges and propose locally feasible strategies for improving Philippine animal facilities.

• Enhance understanding of animal housing, care, personnel training, record-keeping, and quality assurance.

• Promote a culture of care and compliance with local and international ethical standards.

• Equip facility managers and IACUCs with tools for planning, maintaining, and auditing animal facilities.

The presentation will cover the core pillars of facility management: physical infrastructure, animal husbandry, personnel management, environmental enrichment, and biosecurity. Participants will learn about essential components such as appropriate cage design and density, ventilation and lighting control, pest control measures, emergency protocols, and waste disposal systems. Case examples from Southeast Asia and Philippine institutions will illustrate both successes and common pitfalls. Emphasis will also be placed on documentation practices (e.g., daily logs, health records, SOPs), accreditation requirements, and training programs for animal care staff. Attention will be given to cost-effective solutions for resource-limited institutions, including the adaptation of open-source facility planning tools, modular housing systems, and local sourcing of materials.

• Identify and apply best practices in facility layout, animal care, and biosecurity.

• Develop or revise standard operating procedures based on global benchmarks.

• Assess their own institutional facilities using a checklist of essential management components.

• Implement low-cost strategies to improve housing and care conditions.

• Strengthen institutional compliance with animal welfare and research ethics guidelines.

Improving laboratory animal facility management is both a scientific and ethical imperative. Through the application of best practices tailored to the Philippine setting, institutions can raise the standard of animal research, ensure compliance with national and international regulations, and promote animal welfare. A well-managed facility serves as the foundation for high-quality, credible, and humane scientific inquiry.