Press Release - Sponsorship Speech of Senator Cynthia A. Villar on Senate Bill No. 2558 or the Livestock, Poultry, and Dairy Industry Development and Competitiveness Act

Mr. President, esteemed colleagues, and fellow advocates for the agriculture sector, good afternoon!

As Chairperson of the Committee on Agriculture, Food and Agrarian Reform, I stand before you today to sponsor a piece of legislation which I undoubtedly believe is crucial towards unlocking the immense potential of our livestock, poultry, and dairy industry and ensuring the sustainable growth and development of our agriculture sector.

I am pleased to sponsor Senate Bill No. 2558 under Committee Report No. 193 or "An Act StrengtheningLivestock, Poultry, and Dairy Industry Development and Competitiveness, Rationalizing the Organization and Functions of Relevant Government Agencies, and Creating a Competitive Enhancement Fund Therefor". This is the product of the two public hearings, three technical working group meetings, and several consultative meetings which our Committee conducted together with the Committees on Finance, and Ways and Means. It is a 32-page substitute bill for Senate Bill Nos. 119, 792, 972 and 999 respectively filed by this Representation, Senators Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada, Lito Lapid, and Sonny Angara.

Mr. President, in sponsoring this measure, we endeavor to advance the development and competitiveness of the livestock, poultry, and dairy or the LPD industry. The industry plays a vital role in ensuring our food security and accounts for more than a quarter of the agricultural sector's output in 2023. It stimulates economic growth especially in rural areas and provides livelihood opportunities to more than 2.8 million livestock and poultry farmers.

Despite its importance, the LPD industry faces several challenges that hinder it from realizing its full potential.

We know too well of the effect of disease outbreaks such as the African Swine Fever or ASF which has been afflicting our hog industry and decimating our pork supply since 2019. This has resulted in a significant increase in the prices of pork products. In recent years, we also had to rely on imported poultry to address the shortfall in chicken production amidst increasing demand. Filipinos actually spend more for meat compared to our neighbors as the average prices of chicken and pork