Villar wants to strengthen the animal husbandry, poultry and dairy sectors

Senator Cynthia Villar attends the closing ceremony of “Magsasaka at Mangingisda, Katuwang Tungo sa Masagang Bagong Pilipinas” of the National Farmers and Fishermen Month at the Bureau of Soil and Water Management (BSWM) office in Quezon City, May 27, 2024.

STAR/Jesse Bustos

MANILA, Philippines – Senator Cynthia Villar is pushing for a measure that aims to accelerate the development, promotion and competitiveness of the livestock, poultry and dairy (LPD) industry.

Villar said Senate Bill No. 2558, or the “An Act to Strengthen the Development of Livestock, Poultry and Dairy Farming,” rationalizes the organization and functions of relevant government agencies and creates a competitiveness improvement fund for the sector.

“For a long time, the LPD sector remained the responsibility of the private sector, now, thanks to this bill, the government will actively support this sector and participate in its development,” said Villar, chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture.

“These industries play a significant role in food security and will account for more than a quarter of agricultural production in 2023.” – she added.

Villar said pork and chicken account for about 29.8 percent of protein intake in the Philippines.

The high cost of these goods, which makes them unaffordable to most Filipinos, can lead to protein deficiency and contribute to malnutrition.

The senator noted that 99 percent milk supply is imported, making it inaccessible and inaccessible to a growing population.

Local milk production is struggling and requires support to meet and meet local demand, particularly through breastfeeding programs in schools and other childcare settings, she said.

She added that the country’s pig sector continues to grapple with the African swine fever epidemic since 2019 and needs to bounce back by supporting backyard farmers and commercial farms. ASF is responsible for losses amounting to £100 billion.

The poultry sector also needs sustainable production inputs, such as feed, drugs against pests and diseases, and more efficient production systems.

A mandatory review will be conducted by the Congressional Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Oversight Committee and relevant agencies to produce an impact assessment of the measure.