, . 
FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Second Regular Session 
SENATE 
S. No. 2894 
) 
) 
) 
'11 
JlJL 19 P 2 :1 0 
Introduced by Senator Manuel "Lito" M. Lapid 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Philippine hog production is valued at Php161 billion pesos ($3.5 billion) 
annually. Our country's consumption of pork is estimated to be at 1.357 million 
metric tons per annum in carcass weight equivalent (CWE). 
Pork supply is 
mostly for domestic food consumption which is about 98 percent, and the 
balance is manufactured into canned or processed meat. The derived 
consumption of pork in 2009 was 14.87 kilograms. 
The local hog industry accounts for about 83 percent of the total livestock 
production and is equivalent to almost 15 percent of total value of agricultural 
production. As of January 2010, the total number of pigs is about 13.4 million 
heads, of which 71 percent are from backyard farms and 29 percent are being 
raised by commercial farms. The highest number of pigs can be found in the 
CALABARZON Cavite-Laguna-Batangas (1.76 million), followed by Western 
Visayas (1.65 million) and Central Luzon (1.43 million). 
Hog raising in the Philippines has been a profitable business for Filipinos 
through the decades. Its popularity is evidently seen among backyards of rural 
families. An average Filipino family usually raises a small number of pigs to 
augment their daily needs. While both parents are busy with their work, children 
may help in raising a few piglets until they reach their marketable age. 
Data from the Department of Agriculture indicate that in the past few years, 
about 60,000 out of the 300,000 sows in Central Luzon have died due to swine 
related diseases. The problem lies on the fact that our country has no proper 
diagnostic laboratory to identify the disease strains that affect our local hog 
raisers that is why our industry players do not know what vaccines to utilize in 
order to prevent the spread of such disease. To date, the swine industry in the 
country is still not capable of detecting which particular swine related disease that 
affect a particular province or region. 
It is for this reason that this proposed measure seeks to establish a state-
of-the-art diagnostic laboratory for swine related diseases in every region in order 
to empower the Department of Agriculture with the capability to properly identify 
the particular swine related disease that affect a particular region and 
recommend the appropriate vaccine to prevent the spread of such disease. 


Furthermore, said diagnostic laboratory shall also maintain surveillance 
and shall monitor the diseases to determine their possible transmission to 
humans as well as other animals. The early detection of the diseases is critical to 
control the diseases, to avoid their transmission to humans and to limit the 
economic losses of the country. 
Furthermore, the establishment of a diagnostic laboratory in every region is 
essential to a disease-free source of animal food products for consumers. 
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
MAN 
L "LITO" M. LAP,I~I 
Senator 
r ' 


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Second Regular Session 
SENATE 
S. No. 2894 
) 
) 
) 
'11 
JUL 19 P 2 :1 0 
Introduced by Senator Manuel "Lito" M. Lapid 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING A STATE-OF-THE-ART DIAGNOSTIC LABORATORY FOR 
SWINE-RELATED DISEASES IN EVERY REGION TO IDENTIFY DISEASES 
AFFECTING OUR LOCAL HOG INDUSTRY, APPROPRIATING FUNDS 
THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. 
Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Swine Disease 
Diagnostic Laboratory Act of 2011 n. 
SEC. 2. 
Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the 
State to develop and support the livestock industry in the country in order to promote 
food security in the country. 
Towards this end, the State shall institute programs and enabling mechanisms to 
protect our country's swine industry from various types of diseases that adversely affect 
the swine industry in the country. Early detection of the various types of diseases that 
affect the local hog/swine industry is critical in preventing the huge economic loss 
brought about by the spread of such diseases. 
As such, the State shall establish a state-of-the-art diagnostic laboratory in every 
region in order to ensure food security in our provinces and provide a disease-free 
source of animal food products for our consumers. 
SEC. 3. 
Establishment of a Diagnostic Laboratory for Local Hogs. -
The Department of Agriculture (DA) is hereby mandated to establish a state-of-the art 
Diagnostic Laboratory in every region in order to proactively prevent the spread of 
swine-related diseases in our provinces. The state-of-the-art Diagnostic Laboratory shall 
be under the supervision and management of the Regional Offices of the Department of 
Agriculture. Said laboratory shall study and identify the disease strains that affect our 
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local hog industry and shall recommend the appropriate vaccines needed to address 
and stop the spread of such diseases. 
SEC. 4. 
Information, Education and Communication (IEC) Campaign. -
Upon determination by the Department of Agriculture of a hog disease outbreak, the 
DA, in coordination with local government units, shall conduct a massive information, 
education and communication (IEC) campaign pertaining to the particular disease strain 
that affects a particular region, and shall recommend the appropriate preventive 
measures to be undertaken by hog raisers. 
The information, education and communication (lEe) campaign, shall include, 
among others: 
(a) 
the guidelines on the various measures to be undertaken by hog raisers in 
order to prevent the spread of such disease; 
(b) 
raising public awareness on the specific strain of disease that affects the 
hog industry; 
(c) 
the dissemination of publications and other resources on the prevention of 
the spread of the disease; and 
(d) 
the raising of public awareness on the early detection and reporting in the 
event of occurrence of such diseases identified by our hog raisers. 
SEC. 5. 
Prevention of Conflict of Interest in the Research Process. -
Within six (6) month from the date of effectivity of this Act, the Department of Agriculture 
(DA) shall issue the necessary standards, guidelines and regulations in order to ensure 
that there is no conflict of interest between the research agenda of the researchers and 
the manufacturers of vaccines and medicines for a particular disease that affect our hog 
industry. 
The DA shall ensure the timely publication and dissemination of information of 
these guidelines and regulations in order to ensure that the various stakeholders in the 
hog industry all over the country are adequately informed. 
SEC. 6. 
Appropriation Clause. - There is hereby appropriated the amount 
of Php50,OOO,OOO.OOO pesos for the initial establishment of the Diagnostic Laboratory 
for Local Hogs. Thereafter, the amount necessary to implement the provisions of this 
Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriation of the Department of 
Agriculture (DA). 
SEC. 7. 
Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR). -
Within six (6) 
month from the date of its effectivity, the Department of Agriculture (DA), in coordination 
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with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), shall promulgate the 
necessary rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this Act. 
SEC. 8. 
Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and 
regulations or parts thereof not consistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby 
repealed or modified accordingly. 
SEC. 9. 
Separability Clause. - If any provision or part of this Act, or the 
application thereof to any person or circumstance, is held unconstitutional or invalid, the 
remainder of this Act shall not be affected thereby. 
SEC. 10. 
Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
from the date of its complete publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) 
newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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