DBM OKs release of over P69M for DA’s nat’l livestock program

The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has approved the release of over P69 million for the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) National Livestock Program.

In a statement on Friday, the DBM said Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman has approved the release of P69,699,000 to support the Protein-Enriched Copra Meal (PECM) Commercialization Project under the National Livestock Program.

The DBM said the special allotment release orders (SAROs), approved by Pangandaman on November 17, aimed "to augment the Production Support Services (PSS) on the National Livestock Program to cover the funding requirements of the PECM Commercialization Project, chargeable against the DA Budget under 2022 General Appropriations Act.”

“In line with President Ferdinand Marcos. Jr.’s instruction to put prime importance on agriculture, we will do our best to provide support and implement vital measures to boost the country’s agricultural output. The release of the fund will surely help our kababayans, especially those who rely on livestock farming as their livelihood,” said Pangandaman.

The DA - National Livestock Program, through the PECM Commercialization Project, aims to commercialize the use of protein-enriched copra meal as a locally available feed ingredient that can substitute imported soybean for the benefit of Filipino swine and poultry raisers.

According to the DA, the project “shall focus to jumpstart and expedite the commercialization of PECM as an urgent measure to cushion the impact of soaring feed raw material prices which had been contributing to the increase in pork and chicken consumers.”

“Ultimately, supporting the program translates to helping our consumers. Ito naman po ang hangarin ng Marcos admin – ang tulungan ang agriculture sector sa kanilang produksyon para ma-maintain ang presyo ng mga agricultural products at affordable levels,” Pangandaman said. —NB, GMA Integrated News