THE SENATE approved on second reading on Tuesday a bill seeking to develop a modernization plan for the livestock, poultry and dairy industries.
Senate Bill No. 2558, filed by Senator Cynthia A. Villar, calls for a livestock, poultry, and dairy competitiveness fund to be set up with funding from import tariffs of P7.8 billion a year for the next 10 years.
It also calls for the establishment of the Office of the Undersecretary of the National Livestock, Poultry, Dairy, and other Animals Program to oversee policy geared at boosting production in these industries.
“For the longest time, the Livestock, Poultry and Dairy sector has been left to be run by the private sector. With this Act, the government will actively support and participate in the development of the sector,” Ms. Villar said in May.
Farm output growth was little changed in the first quarter at 0.05%, amid a prolonged dry spell brought on by El Niño.
Poultry production grew 5.9% year on year during the period, slowing from 7.8% in the fourth quarter of 2023. — John Victor D. Ordoñez
