October 9, 2025
Philippines unveils 10-year, US$3 billion plan to build biosecure livestock and poultry industry
The Philippines' ₱200-billion (US$3.43 billion) Animal Industry Development and Competitiveness Act (AIDCA)—signed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Sept. 25—marks a turning point in how the Philippines approaches livestock, poultry, and dairy production: from backyard farming to biosecure, technology-driven agribusiness.
The law arrives amid repeated outbreaks of African Swine Fever and bird flu, which have battered farmers and pushed up food prices. It's not just about raising more animals—it's about future-proofing the food chain.
AIDCA transforms the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) into a full-fledged line agency and gives the Philippine Carabao Center and National Dairy Authority new muscle in biotechnology, vaccine research, and animal health response.
· ₱20 billion (US$343.51 million) a year from tariffs will seed an Animal Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (AnCEF), with 26 percent going to herd repopulation.
· ₱7 billion (US$120.22 million) will modernise slaughterhouses and cold storage, ₱1.8 billion (US$30.91 million) will back disease recovery, and ₱1.2 billion (US$20.61 million) will promote animal health.
· The law also ensures access to feed innovation and affordable credit, boosting smallholder inclusion.
"This law is more than a funding mechanism—it's a bold commitment to the people who feed our country," said Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. "It marks a turning point for Philippine agriculture—one that empowers farmers, protects consumers, and prepares our food systems for the future."
While the law's headline feature is its funding size, its true test lies in implementation—ensuring local vaccine production, disease surveillance, and animal traceability systems actually reach farmers at the grassroots.
AIDCA is the government's biggest bet yet on modernising the livestock sector—a move that could make Philippine agriculture not just productive, but biosecure, resilient, and globally competitive.
- InsiderPH
