Former senator Cynthia Villar welcomed the signing of Republic Act 12308, or the Animal Industry Development and Competitiveness Act (AIDCA), a measure aimed at revitalizing the country’s livestock, poultry and dairy sectors through a P200-billion investment over the next ten years.
‘I thank President Marcos, Representative Mark Enverga, the Department of Agriculture, and all industry stakeholders for their support in the passage of this vital measure,’ Villar said. ‘This law will strengthen our animal industries, ensure food security and help build a more resilient agricultural sector.’
Signed into law on Sept. 25, RA 12308 elevates the Bureau of Animal Industry into a line agency under the Department of Agriculture, expanding its regulatory functions and authority. The measure also strengthens the Philippine Carabao Center and National Dairy Authority by assigning them new mandates, including biotechnology, vaccine development, and herd repopulation programs.
Villar said the initiative was driven by the devastation caused by the african swine fever outbreak in 2022, which led to a 20.8 percent decline in pork production and economic losses estimated at P100 billion in 2023.
The former senator also emphasized the need to strengthen the local dairy industry, which currently produces only one percent of the country’s milk requirements.
‘Our dairy sector faces persistent challenges such as low herd population, lack of breeding farms, and insufficient training on animal nutrition and management. The AIDCA will help us address these issues through better programs and funding,’ Villar added.
A major feature of the law is the creation of the Animal Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (AnCEF), which will receive P20 billion annually from tariffs on livestock, poultry and dairy imports.
The AnCEF was patterned after the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund, which Villar also principally authored. It will serve as a supplementary fund to the National Livestock Program.
The Philippine Institute for Development Studies will monitor the implementation of the AIDCA and release an annual performance report beginning in its second year.
In its third year, the allocations under the AnCEF will be reviewed to assess program effectiveness, while a mandatory review by the Committee on Cooperatives and Farmer Modernization will be conducted on the law’s tenth year to determine whether amendments or extensions are needed based on improvements in farmers’ incomes.
‘Pork, chicken and milk are essential to the Filipino diet. Through this law, we aim to make our animal industry more competitive and sustainable,’ Villar said.
‘This measure not only strengthens food security but also ensures better income for our farmers and livestock raisers,’ she added.