June 28, 2024

Philippines to streamline permit process for aquaculture and livestock projects

The Philippines' Department of Agriculture (DA) announced plans to streamline the permit process for aquaculture and livestock projects to attract more private-sector investment, BusinessWorld reported.

Agriculture Undersecretary for Policy, Planning, and Regulations Asis G Perez said that the streamlining initiative could potentially lead to lower food prices. "The requirement is that the government should streamline everything because that adds up to the cost," Perez said.

The streamlining process, which Perez estimated would take eight months, will also align with the DA's compliance with the Ease of Doing Business Law. He noted that aquaculture farms currently face prolonged approval times from government agencies and local government units.

Perez highlighted that another challenge hindering livestock and poultry investment is the shortage of land. "We have to develop a policy that sets aside lands devoted to specific areas for development," he added.

-      BusinessWorld