By Nimfa Estrellado Rep. Wilfrido Mark Enverga (Cong. Mark Enverga) LUCENA CITY, Quezon – The House of Representatives is considering H...
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| Rep. Wilfrido Mark Enverga (Cong. Mark Enverga) |
LUCENA CITY, Quezon – The House of Representatives is considering House Bill No. 11355, a potentially transformative piece of legislation designed to revitalize the Philippine animal industry. The bill proposes significant reforms, including strengthening the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) and creating a substantial fund to boost competitiveness.
Authored by Rep. Wilfrido Mark Enverga, Chair of the Committee on Agriculture and Food, and with secondary referral to the Committee on Appropriations chaired by Rep. Stella Luz A. Quimbo, HB 11355 seeks to address long-standing challenges and unlock the industry's full potential.
A key provision of the bill involves expanding and reclassifying the BAI into a line agency attached to the Department of Agriculture (DA), headed by an Administrator with Undersecretary rank. This elevates the BAI's position within the DA. The BAI would absorb the functions of the National Livestock Program, while the National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS) would become its core regulatory office, streamlining oversight.
The agency would also be responsible for creating and implementing a National Animal Industry Roadmap, in consultation with relevant stakeholders, ensuring a coordinated approach to development. The President would be authorized to restructure and complete the BAI's staffing pattern to ensure it has the necessary expertise.
Perhaps the most impactful element of the bill is the creation of the Animal Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (AnCEF). This proposed fund would receive an annual appropriation of P20 billion for ten years, sourced from tariffs collected on livestock, poultry, and dairy products. The AnCEF aims to bolster the animal industry by strategically investing in crucial areas.
The AnCEF would be allocated across a range of priorities. These include 26% for repopulation and herd build-up, 7% for herd build-up at the Philippine Carabao Center and National Dairy Authority, and 15% for a credit facility for the animal industry. Another key area of focus is improving shared facilities, which would receive 14% of the fund.
Further allocations include 14% for food safety, animal extension support, and training, 10% for a Capacity Recovery Fund, 5% for animal health and welfare, 5% for animal and poultry feed development, 2% for R&D programs, 1% for marketing and trade promotion, and 1% for accrediting small-hold livestock raisers. If tariff collections exceed P20 billion in a given year, the excess would be earmarked for direct financial support to farmers, recovery programs, NDA capitalization, and support for those affected by biosafety threats.
The bill mandates that AnCEF beneficiaries be listed in a Livestock Registry System established by the DA. It also calls for a mandatory review of the AnCEF by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies and the Congressional Oversight Committee on Agricultural Fisheries Modernization (COCAFM), ensuring transparency and accountability.
HB 11355 also proposes a one-time allocation of P2.3 billion from the Remedies Fund for various initiatives, including a One-stop Shop Regulatory Building for the NMIS, establishing 82 BAI provincial offices, biosafety programs, and dairy hubs. The bill emphasizes the harmonization of regulations into a comprehensive Code of Regulations for the animal industry and establishes an Animal Emergency Response Task Force. It also outlines offenses and violations related to the proposed measures.
The proposed legislation is expected to significantly impact the animal industry, boosting production, improving competitiveness, and supporting small farmers and producers. The House Committees on Agriculture and Food and Appropriations are currently reviewing the bill. Public hearings and consultations with stakeholders are anticipated in the coming weeks. The bill also cites related laws such as the Meat Inspection Code, the Safeguard Measures Act, the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act, and others.
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