Agriculture and Fisheries (AF) 2025 Task Force on Poultry, Livestock and Corn group recently met with Department of Agriculture (DA) officials headed Secretary Proceso Alcala, Assistant Secretaries Dave Catbangan and Edilberto de Luna, BAI Director Efren Nuestro, LDC Director Manuel Jarmin, NDA Administrative Grace Cenas, and representatives from NMIS and PCC.
The industry was represented by United Broiler Raisers Association (UBRA), Philippine Association of Broiler Integrators (PABI), Propork and National Corn Board to discuss the major issues confronting the sector such as: the need to create data system as part of anti-smuggling efforts; Minimum Access Volume (MAV) importations; high fees imposed by local government units (LGUs) on the livestock and poultry players; and need for the establishment of Triple A slaughterhouse and dressing plant.
Atty. Elias Inciong, chairperson of UBRA, advocated for the even distribution of the MAV allocations for the whole year if it will not be abolished. Secretary Alcala responded that he will consult with the companies with MAV allocations so that the government will not resort to special importations.Secretary Alcala stressed that the DA will act immediately on the concerns.
Since the entire country is declared foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) free by the OIE, potentials for exports are being realized by the government and the livestock and poultry sector. Secretary Alcala said that the DA will provide fund under ACEF for the establishment of Triple A dressing plant and slaughterhouses and other facilities needed by the sector to enhance their competitiveness. He said that 70% of the ACEF grant will be utilized for the competitiveness of the poultry, livestock and corn sector while 30% will go to the loans for the other sectors.
On issues regarding the impositions of high fees or taxes by the LGUs, Secretary Alcala required the sector to submit first the present fees being imposed on them together with their proposals on the matter. He said that he will arrange a meeting with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary, the League of Provinces and the League of Municipalities, together with private sector representatives, to tackle the issues.The meeting also touched on the sector’s request to create a data system that will make the data on importations (importations under MAV) transparent and for easy access by the sector.
As agreed, Secretary Alcala designated Secretary Davinio Catbagan as the point person for livestock, poultry and corn group who will work with them on all of their concerns.Secretary Alcala also announced that the implementation of the Food Lane program will be restored. He added that the DA will put up a “Producers’ Market” that will directly sell the products of the poultry and livestock players to help them become competitive in terms of prices.
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| Agriculture and Fisheries 2025 Task Force on Poultry, Livestock and Corn group meets with Department of Agriculture officials headed Secretary Proceso Alcala to discuss the major issues confronting the sector |
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