July 15, 2025

Cattle farming expected to revive agri sectors in Northern Cebu, Philippines towns

Four towns in Northern Cebu, the Philippines, are foreseen to revive its agricultural landscapes and stimulate local economies not only through the plantation of corn and other crops, but also through cattle farming.

It is seen as a potential machinery in making Cebu as a premium supplier of branded beef, including Wagyu. This is also expected to boost the province's tourism allure, said Manny Piñol, former Agriculture secretary and current food security adviser of Cebu Governor Pamela Baricuatro.

He said Bogo City and the towns of Medellin, Daanbantayan, and San Remigio have the possibility of transforming over 10,000 hectares of formerly sugarcane-planted land into cattle grazing and feed production zones following the closure of the area's sugar mill.

The idea gained traction shortly after the 1st Cebu Food Security Forum held in Medellin on July 10, where veteran cattleman Arnel Corpuz conducted a lecture and later surveyed the vast abandoned farmland.

Corpuz saw strong potential for cultivating sorghum, soybeans, and corn on these lands—crops essential to sustaining a confined cattle-raising system. He projected that the area could feed up to 60,000 heads of cattle yearly, far surpassing Cebu's annual beef consumption estimated at 16,000 heads, or roughly one kilo per capita.

During his presentation, Corpuz also proposed a Wagyu production and beef upgrading program to elevate the province's reputation in the culinary and tourism sectors.

This initiative, he emphasised, would require intensive community education focused on cattle breeding, confined fattening, and silage management to create an efficient and sustainable supply chain.

"All that is needed to undertake this programme would be a massive educational campaign on cattle breeding, raising and fattening in confined areas and the development of the silage production areas," said Piñol.

- Cebu News