DA soft-launches livestock data systems for wider 2027 rollout

The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Friday announced it has soft-launched two digital systems for livestock data ahead of their rollout next year as part of efforts to modernize the Philippine animal industry.

In a news release, the DA said the Animal Management Information System (AMIS) and Livestock Registry System (LRS), developed under Republic Act No. 12308 or the Animal Industry Development and Competitiveness Act, will initially integrate administrative data from four major livestock agencies.

The soft launching of AMIS and LRS brought together the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI), Philippine Carabao Center (PCC), National Dairy Authority (NDA), and National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS), laying the foundation for wider data integration ahead of a more comprehensive launch targeted for 2027.

“Better information means better decisions. Better coordination means faster response,” said Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr.

“If we know what animals we have, where they are, and what is happening in the field, we can detect problems earlier, respond faster, improve productivity, and protect livelihoods,” added Tiu Laurel.

The DA said the AMIS, mandated under Section 13 of RA 12308, will serve as the central repository for animal industry information from the municipal to national levels.

It will bring together data on animal production and inventory, health and vaccination, facilities, supply and demand, trade, feeds, prices, research and technologies, diseases, and government programs.

The system will process, validate, and analyze the information to generate reports, forecasts, maps, and other decision-support tools for government, farmers, livestock producers, researchers, and policymakers.

For an industry where a disease outbreak can move faster than paperwork, having timely information could prove critical, according to the DA.

The LRS, meanwhile, will serve as the master list of eligible beneficiaries of the Animal Competitiveness Enhancement Fund, or AnCEF, under Section 17 of RA 12038.

The DA said the development of LRS will involve consultations with farmers’ organizations, cooperatives, and local government units.

BAI will administer the systems, while the livestock agencies will contribute data, technical expertise, and validation based on their respective mandates, it said.

The DA said that the soft launch would be an initial demonstration of the systems’ capabilities and a foundation for broader implementation.

It said the succeeding phase will expand data coverage and participation to other DA offices, government agencies, LGUs, research institutions, and industry stakeholders.

It will also focus on interoperability, data standardization, cybersecurity, and stronger data governance.

The DA said broader 2027 rollout of the two systems is expected to feature expanded datasets, wider agency participation, and enhanced analytics and decision-support capabilities.

The Agriculture Department said the AMIS and LRS would help the government monitor production and animal health more effectively, strengthen disease response and food safety, target programs and resources better, and make policy decisions based on reliable information.—LDF, GMA News