EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE 
S. No.
iA?97
of I))r ferfrrtaip
20 
JAN 28 
A 9:49
"RIlTTTTT'
Introduced by Senator Manuel "Lito" M. Lapid
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A DIAGNOSTIC LABORATORY FOR LIVESTOCK-RELATED 
DISEASES IN  EVERY PROVINCE WHERE THE LIVESTOCK INDUSTRY IS  A 
MAJOR ECONOMIC ACTIVITY, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND
FOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The Year 2019 was the year when the country's local swine industry was hit 
hard. African swine fever or ASF reached the Philippines and spread like wild fire 
across multiple cities and provinces. This resulted in the culling of thousands of pigs, 
wiping out entire farms and growers, the recall of pork-based products by food 
processing companies and local governments frantically imposing entry bans for all 
pork and pork-related or commingled products from disease-stricken areas. The 
outbreak adversely affected the 260 Billion-peso swine industry of the country which 
is also the eight biggest pork producer by volume worldwide.
In the past, the Philippines had been threatened by various livestock diseases, 
such as foot-and-mouth disease, peste de petits ruminants (PPR) or goat plague, avian 
influenza or bird flu outbreak, and red tide or algal blooms. These disease outbreaks 
definitely resulted to strain and injury to the domestic livestock sector.
In situations like this, prevention and containment of the disease is still the 
better solution. The government's thrust must be that of early detection and control 
of the disease to prevent it from reaching the level of an outbreak and from spreading 
across entire regions. This bill is filed to further strengthen the country's capacity for 
early detection and preventive response to livestock diseases.


Under this proposed measure, the establishment of diagnostic laboratories in 
all provinces where the livestock industry is a major economic activity will be 
facilitated. The Diagnostic Laboratory will be under the supervision and management 
of the Department of Agriculture (DA) Regional Office of the region where it is located. 
These laboratories are mandated to study, research and identify the disease strains 
that affect the local livestock industry across different animals (cattle, swine, goat, 
carabao, chicken, etc.) and to recommend the appropriate vaccines and other 
measures necessary to address and stop the spread of the diseases. This bill also 
contains a provision for the implementation of an information, education and 
communication (lEC) campaign by the DA upon the determination of the existence of 
a livestock disease outbreak.
In view of this, early passage of this bill is sought.
UEL "LIT O " M. LAPID
Senator


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
©Kiif of l!;i' ^:'T{iarp
S E N A T E
s. No. 
1297
20 
JftN 28 
A 9 ■•49
Introduced by Senator Manuel "Lito" M. Lapid
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A DIAGNOSTIC LABORATORY FOR LIVESTOCK-RELATED 
DISEASES IN  EVERY PROVINCE WHERE THE LIVESTOCK INDUSTRY IS  A 
MAJOR ECONOMIC ACTIVITY, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND
FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House o f Representatives o f the Philippines 
in Congress assembled:
1 
SECTION 1, Short Title. -  This Act shall be known as "Livestock-Related Disease
2 
Diagnostic Laboratory Act".
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Sec. 2. Declaration o f Policy. -  It is hereby declared as the policy of the
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government to develop and support the livestock industry in the country in order to
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promote food security.
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Towards this end, the State shall institute programs and mechanisms to protect
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the livestock farming industry from various types of diseases and epidemics. Early
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detection of the various types of diseases and epidemics is critical in preventing the
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huge economic loss brought about by the its spread and transmission. The
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establishment of a diagnostic laboratory equipped with the necessary tools and
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facilities and staffed by experts is instrumental in achieving this goal.
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Sec. 3. Establishment o f a Diagnostic Laboratory for Livestock-Related
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Diseases. -  The Department of Agriculture (DA) is hereby mandated to establish a
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Diagnostic Laboratory in every province where the livestock industry is a major


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economic activity. The Diagnostic Laboratory shall be under the supervision and 
management of the DA Regional Office of the region where it is located. Said 
laboratory shall study, research and identify the disease strains that affect the local 
hog industry and shall recommend the appropriate vaccines and other measures 
necessary to address and stop the spread of the diseases.
The DA, in coordination with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), 
Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) and National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS), shall 
determine the provinces where the livestock industry is a major economic activity and 
where the Diagnostic Laboratories will be set up.
Sec. 4. Information, Education and Communication (lEC) Campaign. —  Upon 
determination by the Department of Agriculture of a livestock-related disease 
outbreak, the DA, in coordination with local government units, shall conduct a massive 
information, education and communication (lEC) campaign pertaining to the particular 
disease strain that affects a particular region, and shall recommend the appropriate 
preventive measures to be undertaken by farmers.
The lEC campaign shall include, among others:
a. Dissemination of guidelines on the various measures to be undertaken by 
livestock farmers in order to prevent the spread of the disease;
b. Raising public awareness through print, radio, television and other media 
platforms on the specific strain of disease that affects the livestock industry;
c. Dissemination of publication materials and other resources on the prevention 
of the spread of the disease; and
d. Raising of public awareness on the early detection and reporting of such 
diseases and their symptoms as identified by the farmers.
Sec. 5. Annual Report. -  Each Diagnostic Laboratory shall submit to the 
Department of Agriculture an annual report of its activities and the status of livestock 
diseases and the measures taken to address and prevent its spread of their respective 
territorial jurisdictions. The DA shall in turn submit a consolidated report to Congress, 
which shall also be made available for the public.


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Sec. 6. Appropriations. —  The amount necessary for the implementation of this 
Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriation of the Department of 
Agriculture.
Sec. 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations. -  Within sixty (60) days from the 
effectivity of this Act, the Department of Agriculture shall issue the necessary rules 
and regulations to implement the provisions of this Act.
Sec. 8. Repealing Clause. —  All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, 
proclamations, rules and regulations, or any part thereof, which are inconsistent 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 
its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general 
circulation.
Approved,