The Department of Agriculture (DA) formally launched the celebration of the 4th National Livestock and Poultry Month on October 7 with the theme, “Masaganang Paghahayupan Tungo sa Bagong Pilipinas.”
Composed of the National Livestock Program (NLP), the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI), the National Dairy Authority (NDA), the National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS), the Philippine Carabao Center (PCC) and the Agricultural Training Institute-International Traning Center on Pig Husbandry (ATI-ITCPH), the DA Livestock Group spearheaded the kick-off of the celebration with the support of the Philippine Council for Agriculture and Fisheries (PCAF) and local industry stakeholders.
On behalf of Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., DA Undersecretary for Livestock Deogracias Victor Savellano shared that this year’s theme goes beyond aiming for a productive agriculture.
“Ang masaganang paghahayupan ay hindi lamang tumutukoy sa kasaganaan ng ating mga hayop at produkto. Ito ay simbolo ng ating sama-samang pagsisikap tungo sa mas malusog, mas malakas, at mas produktibong sektor ng paghahayupan. Ang tagumpay sa sektor na ito ay isa sa mga susing magtataguyod ng Bagong Pilipinas—isang Pilipinas na mas matatag, mas makakalikasan, at mas makatarungan sa mga mamamayan,” Usec. Savellano explained.
“Sa pamamagitan ng masaganang paghahayupan, mabibigyan natin ng kakayahan ang ating mga magsasaka, manggagawa at lokal na komunidad na magkaroon ng mas maunlad na buhay,” he added.
Observed each year, on the month of October, the National Livestock and Poultry Month celebration stemmed from the DA Special Order Number 411, series of 2021 with the goal of honoring Filipino animal raisers, traders, and other industry stakeholders whose efforts have contributed to the development of the livestock and poultry industry.
As of June 30, 2024, 2.99 million Filipinos have benefitted from various livestock- and poultry-based livelihoods in the country according to the DA-Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA).
Meanwhile, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported that in 2023, over five million metric tons of livestock, poultry, and other animal products were produced in the country—a sign of recovery from the devastating impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, occurrence of transboundary animal diseases, and other challenges faced by the agriculture sector.
“Sa bawat hamon, nakikita natin ang mga komunidad, oportunidad na palakasin ang ating mga sistema, gamitin ang mga bagong teknolohiya, at pagtibayin ang ating mga ugnayan sa bawat isa,” Usec. Savellano expressed.
The month-long celebration features a photo exhibition of successful agripreneurs in the livestock, poultry, and animal feeds subsectors as well as a bazaar of meat, dairy, and other animal products at the DA Central Office, Quezon City.
The opening ceremony was highlighted by a lechon eating ceremony as part of the “Safe To Eat Pinoy Pork” campaign of the International Training Center on Pig Husbandry (ITCPH), one of the DA-Agricultural Training Institute’s (ATI) training centers and an attached office of the DA-NLP. The said movement aims to encourage Filipino consumers to consume fresh and safe pork, thus boosting the local swine industry.
Various capacity-building initiatives will also be held both virtually and face-to-face by the DA-NLP and its livestock attached offices throughout the month. ### (Krystelle Ymari A. Vergara, DA-AFID)
