Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila
NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. _______________
Introduced by ANG PROBINSYANO
Party-List Representative Alfred Delos Santos
EXPLANATORY NOTE
In October 2020, the Department of Agriculture (DA) launched a
program for the benefit of clustered backyard poultry and livestock farms:1
[M]ore organized backyard livestock and poultry farms will rise in the
countryside as the [DA] implements an expanded livestock and poultry
production and livelihood project.
“With this initiative, we aim to help farm families recover from the loss of
jobs and unemployment due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and those whose
hogs and poultry stocks were depopulated due to the African Swine Fever or
avian influenza (bird flu), respectively,” said Agriculture Secretary William
Dar.
Under
the
project, qualified beneficiaries will receive initial stocks of
livestock and poultry animals for them to raise and propagate as a source of
food and sustainable income.
DA will implement an expanded livestock and poultry production and
livelihood project to help farm families affected by the COVID-19 pandemic
and those whose hogs and poultry stocks were depopulated due to ASF and
bird flu recover from their loss. File Photo from DA
These include chicks for broiler production, or ready-to-lay pullets for table
egg production, or free-range chicken, ducks, swine (for ASF free areas),
goats, sheep, cattle, and carabao.
The DA’s expanded livestock and poultry production and livelihood project
has an initial budget of P337 million (M) and forms part of the DA’s national
livestock program (NLP).
To attain the project’s objectives, qualified beneficiaries are required to
group themselves into clusters with at least 15 members, or be a member of
a farmers’ cooperative, association, or peoples’ organization.
Tasked as project implementer, the DA-Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) has
identified initial beneficiaries who will be clustered per area.
1 https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1057326
August 16, 2022
1:05 pm
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Beneficiaries may start realizing gains as early as two months for those
engaged in broiler production, and four to six months for those in chicken
egg production, and raising of hogs, goats, and sheep.
Included, too, in the project guidelines is the provision of animal feed for
three months to enable beneficiaries to nourish and fatten their stocks into
marketable weight or age.
Farm tools, equipment, and machinery may also be given to selected
beneficiaries.
The project beneficiaries per module may receive the following:
· 
Broiler production – 100 chicks worth P15,000;
·
Native chicken and egg production – 40 hens, 10 roosters, feeds, and
incubator, worth P55,000;
·
Duck and balut production – 40 ducks and 10 drakes, worth
P35,000;
·
Hog production – three piglets (weaners) and eight bags of feeds,
worth P25,000; and
·
Livestock production – three does and 1 buck, one cattle or one
carabao, at least P30,000 up to P120,000.
In all, the national livestock program (NLP) aims to promote animal and
poultry breeding and production, particularly of meat, eggs, and milk, said
DA Undersecretary for Livestock and Poultry William Medrano.
His team is tasked to ensure the smooth implementation of the NLP in
coordination with the DA regional field offices in collaboration with the local
government units.
While this is certainly good news for the intended beneficiaries, those
who cannot participate in this program must not be left behind to flounder.
Unorganized backyard raisers will be the hardest hit by any crisis that
strikes the livestock and poultry industry, if only because they only
have
themselves to rely on.
We could offer them assistance using the
Philippine Livestock
Promotion Fund (“Fund”). After all, Section 1 of Republic Act No. 1578
(“Consolidating Certain Funds into the ‘Philippine Livestock Promotion
Fund’”) states that it must be used to conserving and developing the
Philippine livestock industry as a whole and promoting maximum efficiency
and economy in the service connected therewith.
However, since its passing in 1956, R.A. No. 1578 has not undergone
the updating that would most benefit the raisers of our livestock, especially
small-holders or backyard raisers. Under Section 2,
which tackles the
possible uses of the Fund, there is no mention of aiding, or protecting the
unique or specific interests of, backyard livestock raisers. And under Section
3,
the
Director
of
Animal
Industry’s
authority
and
power
to
make
disbursements out of the Fund does not extend to giving direct financial
assistance to backyard livestock raisers.


Hence the need for this Bill. It shall amend R.A. No. 1578, to secure
the
welfare
of
all
backyard
raisers,
so
that
even
those
who
cannot
participate in the DA’s latest program will have some assurance that they
can look to the government for help when they most need it.
It is for the foregoing premises that the approval of this Bill is
earnestly sought.
ALFRED C. DELOS SANTOS
Representative, Ang Probinsyano Party-List


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila
NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. _______________
Introduced by ANG PROBINSYANO
Party-List Representative Alfred Delos Santos
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 the 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:
“Section 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 animals;
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;
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c) For the manufacture of biological products needed in the
control, eradication, and treatment of animal diseases and
parasites;
d) 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
THE
DEPARTMENT
OF
AGRICULTURE
(DA)
UNDER
THE
REGISTRY
SYSTEM
FOR
BASIC
SECTORS
IN
AGRICULTURE (RSBSA); and
f)
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.”
SECTION 2. Section 3 of Republic Act No. 1578 is hereby amended to
read as follows:
“Section 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
consumption; for the purchase of apparatuses, instruments,
chemicals, supplies, 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.”
SECTION 3. Section 4 of Republic Act No. 1578 is hereby amended to
read as follows:
“Section 4. In order to raise the necessary funds for the
activities herein provided, there shall be collected for animals
slaughtered in any public or private slaughterhouse and in
private
meatpacking
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
c) For sheep, goats, and deer [P0.30] 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.”
SECTION 4. Section 5 of Republic Act No. 1578 is hereby amended to
read as follows:
“Section 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 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.”
SECTION 5.
Implementing Rules and Regulations. – The DA shall, in
coordination with the Department of Budget and Management (DBM),
Department of Finance, (DoF) and other government agencies, promulgate
the necessary implementing rules and regulations within sixty (60) days
upon the approval of this Act.


SECTION 9. Separability Clause. – If any provision or part of this Act
is
held invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining provisions or parts
unaffected shall remain in full force and effect.
SECTION
10.
Repealing
Clause.
–
All
laws,
executive
orders,
presidential decrees or issuances, letters of instruction, administrative
orders, rules, and regulations contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions
of this Act are hereby repealed, amended, or modified accordingly.
SECTION 11. Effectivity Clause. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15)
days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general
circulation.
Approved,