Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Batasan Hills, Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
Third Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
Introduced by  
HON. ATTY. GERVILLE “JINKY BITRICS” R. LUISTRO 
AN ACT INSTITUTIONALIZING THE GRANT OF FINANCIAL COMPENSATION 
AND/OR ASSISTANCE TO INDIVIDUALS ENGAGED IN THE BUSINESS OF 
LIVESTOCK, POULTRY, AND FISH FARMS AFFECTED BY DISEASE AND 
NATURAL DISASTERS, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
While considerably dwarfed by other sectors such as the industry and services sector, 
agriculture remains one of the most significant sectors of our country’s economy, largely 
contributing to the aggregate value of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fishing equal to P2.28 trillion or 
around 9.41 percent of the country’s P24.3 trillion GDP in 20231. Of this P2.28 trillion sector,
animals such as livestock, poultry, fishing, and associated products alone contribute around 
P9162 million, constituting close to 40 percent of the sector.
The Philippines is a country that lies in the direct path of the so-called Typhoon Belt and 
the Pacific Ring of Fire. With an average of 20 typhoons entering the country’s area of 
responsibility annually3 and events such as volcanic eruptions and earthquakes being regular
occurrences relative to other countries, natural disasters cost the Philippine economy billions of 
pesos annually. In a 2020 report by the Philippine Statistics Authority, damages incurred due to 
1https://psa.gov.ph/system/files/nap/NAP%20Publication%20Q4%202023.pdf
2ibid 
3https://www.pagasa.dost.gov.ph/climate/tropical-cyclone-information
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November 4, 2024
12:11 pm


extreme events and natural disasters from 2010 to 2019 amounted P463 billion, with agriculture 
taking the largest share at 62.7 or P290 billion4.
In addition to national disasters, disease also adversely affects the agricultural and 
fisheries sector. In 2023, for example, the hog industry lost P200 billion pesos due to the African 
Swine Fever (ASF). The problem is exacerbated by the fact that hog raisers may opt not to report 
infected pigs for fear that they might not be compensated for their losses.5
While the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC) has an existing livestock 
mortality insurance program, excluded risks include the destruction of animals by administrative 
order of the government and natural disasters such as earthquakes, convulsions of nature, 
volcanic eruption, immolation, and atmospheric disturbances such as tornadoes and typhoons.6
This legislation proposes to provide a means for individuals engaged in the business of 
livestock, poultry, and fish farms who experience losses due to government-initiated 
depopulation as a means to control disease and losses due to natural disasters to recuperate at 
least part of their losses, equal to 20% of the determined market price of the animals lost, so as to 
help them in starting anew.  
In view of the foregoing, approval of the bill is earnestly sought. 
HON. ATTY. GERVILLE “JINKY BITRICS” R. LUISTRO 
4 https://psa.gov.ph/content/damages-due-natural-extreme-events-and-disasters-amounted-php-463-billion 
5 https://www.philstar.com/nation/2023/07/21/2282555/hog-industry-losses-due-asf-hit-p200-billion 
6 https://image.slidesharecdn.com/livestock-120607011728-phpapp01/75/Livestock-1-2048.jpg


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Batasan Hills, Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
Third Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
Introduced by  
HON. ATTY. GERVILLE “JINKY BITRICS” R. LUISTRO 
AN ACT INSTITUTIONALIZING THE GRANT OF FINANCIAL COMPENSATION 
AND/OR ASSISTANCE TO INDIVIDUALS ENGAGED IN THE BUSINESS OF 
LIVESTOCK, POULTRY, AND FISH FARMS AFFECTED BY DISEASE AND 
NATURAL DISASTERS, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
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 “Financial Assistance and 
Compensation to Animal Farmers Act”. 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. It is hereby declared the policy of the State to provide 
financial assistance to individuals engaged in the business or livelihood of raising livestock, 
poultry, and fish farms whom, due to natural calamities, have lost, partially or entirely, their 
entire animal stock. 
It shall likewise be the policy of the State to compensate individuals in the business of livestock, 
poultry, and fish affected by government-implemented depopulation as a result of disease control 
and disease eradication programs.  
SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. As used in this Act: 
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1) Animals – shall refer to poultry, livestock, and fish (which shall include shellfish) 
purposely raised for commerce, which makes use of their meat or other derived 
products for human consumption; 
2) Depopulation – shall refer to the government-sanctioned process of the rapid and 
deliberate killing of infected, potentially infected, or contact animals in an attempt to 
stamp out disease and prevent it from spreading to a healthy population while 
employing prescribed means of humane culling according to Republic Act No. 8485 
or the Animal Welfare Act; 
3) Disease – shall refer to diseases listed under the World Organization for Animal 
Health which, upon infection of the host, leads to death or leads to the development 
of conditions which make them unfit for human and/or animal consumption 
4) Natural Disasters – shall refer to disasters such as but not limited to aquatic 
acidification, flooding, typhoons, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, wildfires, heat 
waves and others as a consequence of a weather event and/or of abrupt geological 
events 
 
 
SECTION 4. Eligibility. All individuals in the business of livestock, poultry, and fish farms, 
who, due to depopulation or natural disasters, lose animals, shall be eligible in receiving 
financial assistance or compensation under this Act. Provided, that the individuals are licensed 
business owners by the Department of Agriculture (DA) as well as the Local Government Unit 
(LGU) where their business operation are located. Provided, further, that individuals applying 
for financial assistance for losses resulting from natural disasters shall be verified by their 
respective LGUs and the Department of Agriculture. Provided, finally, that individuals affected 
by depopulation shall be automatically given compensation by the DA. 
 
Individuals under the direct employment of Multinational and Transnational Corporations and/or 
Conglomerates shall not be eligible for financial assistance nor compensation under this Act.   
 
SECTION 5. Financial Assistance and Compensation. The financial assistance and 
compensation shall be in the form of a one-time, annually available, lump-sum cash transfer to 
individuals incurring losses in livestock, poultry, and fish, and shall be equal to 20% of the 
current market price of confirmed animal losses.  
 
The financial assistance and/or compensation shall be released within a period not exceeding 
thirty (30) calendar days.  
 
SECTION 6. Implementing Agency. The Department of Agriculture shall be the primary 
implementing agency of the cash transfer pertaining to the financial assistance and/or 
compensation under this Act. LGUs shall endeavour to assist the DA in the implementation of 
this Act.  


 
SECTION 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations. Within one (1) month from the approval of 
this Act, both the Secretaries of Agriculture and of Interior and Local Government shall 
formulate rules and guidelines as may be necessary for the proper implementation and 
enforcement of this Act. 
 
SECTION 8. Appropriations. The amount necessary for the initial implementation of this Act 
shall be charged under the current appropriations Department of Agriculture. Thereafter, regular 
appropriations for the implementation of this Act shall be included in the General Appropriations 
Act. 
 
SECTION 9. Separability Clause. If any provision of this Act shall be declared unconstitutional 
or invalid, such declaration shall not invalidate other parts thereof which shall remain in full 
force and effect. 
 
SECTION 10. Repealing Clause. All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, rules and 
regulations or parts thereof which are inconsistent with or contrary to the provisions of this Act 
are hereby amended, repealed or modified accordingly. 
 
SECTION 11. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after it publication in the 
Official Gazette or in any newspaper of general circulation. 
 
Approved,