Press Release - PRIB: Senate okays bill to revitalize livestock, poultry, dairy industry

To bolster the growth and enhance the productivity of the country's livestock, poultry and dairy industry, the Senate on Monday, August 12, 2024, approved on third and final reading Senate Bill No. (SBN) 2558, otherwise known as an 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.

Sen. Cynthia Villar, principal author and sponsor of the bill, said the industry plays a vital role in ensuring food security and accounts for more than a quarter of the agricultural sector output in 2023. It also stimulates economic growth, especially in rural areas by providing livelihood opportunities to more than 2.8 million livestock and poultry farmers.

"Pork and chicken are the integral components of the Filipino diet, helping ensure a balance intake of nutrients. It is estimated that 52 percent of our protein consumption comes from pork and chicken and this is projected to grow even higher to 58 percent in 2030. Thus, high meat prices could lead to protein deficiency and contribute to malnutrition," Villar said in her sponsorship speech.

She said disease outbreaks such as the African swine fever had adversely affected pork supply in the country since 2019. She said the Philippines also relied on imported poultry to address the shortfall of chicken products and increasing demand. As a result, she said Filipinos spend more for meat as compared to their counterparts in Thailand and Vietnam.

Likewise, Villar said the Philippines is struggling with dairy production and is heavily dependent on imported milk. She cited data from the National Dairy Authority (NDA) which showed that domestic dairy production in 2022 was merely 30,028 metric tons or less than one percent of the total milk supply in the country. According to Villar, a 2022 study of the Philippine Institute for Development Study (PIDS) showed that the Philippines produces on an average, only 6.8 liters of milk per animal per day versus Vietnam's 24.2 liters per animal per day and Thailand's production of 13.6 liters per animal per day.

Despite its importance,