December 24, 2024

 

Signing of bill could improve production of Philippines' livestock industry, according to agricultural group

 

 

Philippine agricultural group Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (Sinag) expressed hope that the signing of a bill to revitalise the Philippines' livestock, poultry, and dairy industry would help bolster local production.

 

"We're asking congressmen to accelerate the passage of the law so it can significantly increase local production," Sinag chair Rosendo So said in an interview on December 19.

 

"Our view is that it would help if local production increases because this would lead to a wider food distribution," he told reporters.

 

Last August, the Senate approved on third and final reading Senate Bill No. 2558, known as the Act Strengthening Livestock, Poultry, and Dairy Industry Development and Competitiveness, Rationalizing the Organization and Functions of Relevant Government Agencies, and Creating a Competitiveness Enhancement Fund.

 

A similar bill was filed in the House of Representatives but has been pending with the House Committee on Agriculture and Food since 2022.

 

The proposed measure filed in the Senate calls for the creation of a roadmap to spur the development of the livestock, poultry, and dairy industry. It will set the strategic direction and key initiatives of concerned agencies, including breeder availability and genetic improvement programmes, pasture crops, and animal feeds programmes, native animal programmes, and animal health welfare and protection programmes.

 

The same roadmap will also streamline the organisation and functions of relevant government agencies to ensure efficient service delivery and effective implementation of the industry's policies.

 

The bill seeks the creation of a Livestock, Poultry, and Dairy Competitiveness Enhancement Fund, modeled after the multibillion-peso Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund.

 

The fund will be given an annual budget appropriation not exceeding ₱7.8 billion (US$139.29 million) sourced from all tariff collections levied on imported livestock, poultry, and dairy products.

 

Livestock production dropped by 6.7% to ₱61.67 billion (US$1.10 billion) in the third quarter of this year, based on a report from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

 

Hog, goat, and carabao registered decreases, while dairy and cattle recorded increases during the quarter.

 

On the other hand, poultry output rose by 5.8% to ₱68.66 billion (US$1.23 billion), with chicken and chicken eggs climbing.

- Inquirer