March 21, 2011

Philippines to double budget for livestock programs

The Philippine Department of Agriculture plans to double the budget next year for its programs supporting the livestock sector, a Cabinet official said at the opening on Friday last week of the 20th Hog Convention & Trade Exhibit in the Philippine International Convention Center.

Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala said in his keynote speech during the 20th Hog Convention and Trade Exhibit hed last week said the DA will work on doubling the budget allocation to the livestock sector to improve agricultural growth.

The budget for livestock development programs accounted for about 5%, or about PHP1.95 billion, of the department's PHP39-billion outlay this year, he said.

Alcala said the hog industry, in particular, should revive export plans soon. The country's maiden foreign shipment to Singapore was aborted in December 2008 due to the detection of the Ebola Reston virus in a hog farm in Luzon that year.

This time, Alcala said the country is expecting to export to South Korea where there is a current FMD (foot and mouth disease) outbreak. The Philippines is expecting a declaration of an FMD-free, "without vaccination," when the World Organization for Animal Health meets this May.