EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) i RECEIVED

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session ) {= omeSEP.

TIME:

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
H.B.No.___ 4915

Introduced by Rep. Vilma Santos-Recto
6th District of Batangas

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR DIRECT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO BACKYARD
LIVESTOCK RAISERS AFFECTED BY MAJOR ANIMAL DISEASE EPIDEMIC
OR TRANSBOUNDARY ANIMAL DISEASES, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 1578, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Philippine Livestock Industry provides livelihood for thousands of Filipino
livestock raisers, as well as food for millions of Filipino families. In 2018, the local livestock
industry registered an aggregate production value of P321.52 billion, which comprise about
17.66% of the total production value of the agricultural, hunting, forestry and fishing
industry. During the same year, some 32.34 million heads of cattle, carabao, swine and goats
were slaughtered in the country, of which 42.68% or 13.80 million were slaughtered in
slaughterhouses nationwide. In 2017, an average Filipino consumes 66.45 grams of beef,
carabeef, pork and chevon on a daily basis, providing every Filipino diet with an average of
212.51 grams of calories, 21.15 grams of proteins, and 13.90 grams of fat. Moreover, an

average Filipino family spends almost P5,275 annually on fresh beef, pork and chevon,

translating to an aggregate disbursement of about P119.90 billion.

Given the economic and dietary importance of the local livestock industry, there is a
need to ensure that livestock raisers, which maintain some 21.96 million livestock heads,
remain agriculturally productive to realize the twin goals of reducing rural poverty and

ensuring food security.

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‘The government engagement in the local livestock industry, however, remains limited
despite the significant contribution of the local livestock industry in the socioeconomic well-
being of every Filipino. This limited role of government in managing the industry contributes
to the persistence of inefficiencies that hinder the industry from realizing its full potential.
Additionally, it inhibits the ability of the government to provide swift and timely
interventions during emergency situations, particularly during the outbreak of animal disease

epidemics and transboundary animal diseases.

This bill seeks to provide remedy to this situation by amending Republic Act No.
1578. Under the prevailing law, first enacted in 1952, municipal treasurers can only collect
ninety cents (P0.90) for every head of cattle, carabao, buffalo, horse, mule and other animals
of the bovine family; sixty cents (P0.60) for every head of swine; and thirty cents (P0.30) for
every head of sheep, goat and deer slaughtered in any public or private slaughterhouse and in
private meat packing establishments as pre-slaughter fees. This bill adjusts the rate of pre-

slaughter fees to its present value, thereby increasing the potential collection of pre-slaughter
fees by as much as 13,230%. Additionally, this proposed measure earmarks a portion of the
Philippine Livestock Promotion Fund for direct financial assistance to backyard livestock
raisers adversely affected by animal disease epidemics and transboundary animal disease.
With these interventions, it is hoped that the government will have enough wherewithal to
assist the local livestock industry especially during calamities and emergency situations.

The goal of the bill is simple yet noble and doable: to provide the government with
the financial wherewithal to assist the industry that provides income and helps reduce poverty

in the countryside, and that ensures the availability of food for all Filipinos.

In light of the foregoing, immediate passage of thy


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE )

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session )
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H. B. No. 4915

Introduced by Rep. Vilma Santos-Recto
6th District of Batangas

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR DIRECT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO BACKYARD
LIVESTOCK RAISERS AFFECTED BY MAJOR ANIMAL DISEASE EPIDEMIC
OR TRANSBOUNDARY ANIMAL DISEASES, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 1578, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled:

Section 1. Section 2 of Republic Act No. 1578 is hereby amended to read as follows:

“Sec. 2. The funds collected under the acts mentioned in the preceding
section shall likewise be consolidated into a special [reimbursable]
ACCOUNT IN THE GENERAL fund to be known as "Philippine Livestock
Promotion Fund” which shall be used for the following purposes:

“(a) For the introduction, propagation, production, and distribution of
purebred and improved breeding animalst. J;

“(b) For the establishment, equipment, maintenance and operation of

stock farms, breeding stations, breeding centers, fixed or ambulatory, and
slaughterhouses, in such places as may be deemed appropriate therefor and
beneficial to the livestock industry: Provided, however, That no
slaughterhouse shall be established in the City of Manila AND OTHER
LOCATIONS TO BE IDENTIFIED BY THE RESPECTIVE LOCAL
GOVERNMENT UNITS IN THE NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION{.|;
“(c) For the manufacture of biological products needed in the control

and eradication and treatment of animal diseases and parasites[.};


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“(@ For conducting experiments on the manufacture, preservation,
utilization and industrialization of animal products, including milk and milk
derivatives;

“(E) FOR THE PROVISION OF DIRECT FINANCIAL
ASSISTANCE TO BACKYARD LIVESTOCK RAISERS ADVERSELY
AFFECTED BY MAJOR ANIMAL DISEASE EPIDEMIC OR
TRANSBOUNDARY ANIMAL DISEASES: PROVIDED, THAT THE
AFFECTED BACKYARD LIVESTOCK RAISERS SHALL REGISTER
WITH DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (DA) UNDER THE
REGISTRY SYSTEM FOR BASIC SECTORS IN AGRICULTURE
(RSBSA); and

“[©] ©) For [such other purposes as may have for their object the
stabilization, protection and development] THE IMPLEMENTATION OF
OTHER PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS TO IMPROVE THE
PRODUCTIVITY of the Philippine Livestock Industry AND TO
PROTECT THE WELFARE OF BACKYARD LIVESTOCK
RAISERS.”

Sec. 2. Section 3 of Republic Act No. 1578 is hereby amended to read as follows:

“Sec. 3. The Director of Animal Industry, subject to the approval of the
Secretary of Agriculture [and Natural Resources}, is hereby authorized and
empowered to make disbursements out of the fund herein created for salaries,
‘wages, and traveling expenses of personnel; for the construction, maintenance
and repair of buildings, fences and other necessary structures; for the purchase
of large cattle and other domestic animals, furnishing the same to the public on
economical terms for improved breeding, agricultural work or for
consumption; for the purchase of apparatuses, instruments, chemicals, supplies
and materials, and other needed equipment; DIRECT FINANCIAL
ASSISTANCE TO BACKYARD LIVESTOCK RAISERS; and for such
other expenses as may be deemed necessary to carry out effectively and
properly the purposes of this Act.”

Sec. 3. Section 4 of Republic Act No. 1578 is hereby amended to read as follows:

“Sec. 4, In order to raise the necessary funds for the activities herein
provided, there shall be collected for animals slaughtered in any public or


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private slaughterhouse and in private meat packing establishments, including
those in chartered cities, pre-slaughter fees at the following rates:

“(a) For cattle, carabaos, buffaloes, horses, mules and other animals of
the bovine family [P0.90] P120.00 per head].

“(b) For swine [P0.60] P80.00 per head[.]; AND

“(©) For sheep, goats and deer [0.30] P40.00 per head.

“The municipal treasurers shall, in addition to their regular duties,
make such collections and shall, at the end of every month, remit the same to
the Treasurer of the Philippines to the credit of the "Philippine Livestock

Promotion Fund" to be expended in accordance with the provisions of this Act.
The provisions of this Section shall not be construed to deprive the
municipalities of their present rights to impose and collect license fees for the
slaughter of any animal or/and for the use of municipal slaughterhouses:
Provided, That nothing in this Act shall be construed as amending or repealing
existing regulations on the slaughter OF carabaos.

“THE DA SHALL REVIEW AND ADJUST THE RATE OF PRE-
SLAUGHTER FEES ONCE EVERY THREE (3) YEARS AFTER THE
EFFECTIVITY OF THIS ACT USING THE CONSUMER PRICE
INDEX AS PUBLISHED BY THE PHILIPPINE STATISTICS
AUTHORITY
Sec. 4. Section 5 of Republic Act No. 1578 is hereby amended to read as follows:

“Sec. 5. The Director of Animal Industry may order the sale for
agricultural, propagation, breeding or meat purposes, or the renting or loaning
for breeding purposes, or the slaughter and sale in the form of meat, of the
animals which may not be needed by the Bureau of Animal Industry, subject
to the existing regulations and to such as may hereafter be promulgated by the
Director of Animal Industry with the approval of the Secretary of Agriculture
[and Natural Resources}; and all the proceeds to be derived therefrom as well
as all other income from the operation of this Act shall accrue to "Philippine
Livestock Promotion Fund" herein created and may be expended by the
Director of Animal Industry, with the approval of the Secretary of Agriculture
[and Natural Resources}, for the same purposes and in the same manner as
provided in this Act.”


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Sec. 5. Implementing Rules and Regulations. ~The DA shall, in coordination with the
Department of Budget and Management, Department of Finance, and other government
agencies concerned, promulgate the necessary implementing rules and regulations within
sixty (60) days upon the approval of this Act.

Sec. 6. Separability Clause. — If any provision, section or part of this Act shall be
declared unconstitutional or invalid, such judgment shall not affect, invalidate or impair any
other provisions, sections or parts hereof.

Sec. 7. Repealing Clause. — Republic Act No. 1578 and all other laws, acts, decrees,
executive orders, issuances, and rules and regulations or parts thereof which are contrary to
and inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.

Sec. 8. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation or in the Official Gazette.

Approved,