DA reconvenes panel to monitor livestock, poultry supply, price

The Department of Agriculture (DA) has reconvened a committee tasked to closely monitor the price and supply of livestock and poultry products in the country.

In its Special Order No. 19, series of 2023, signed by Agriculture Senior Undersecretary Domingo Panganiban, the DA ordered the recomposition of the Price and Volume Watch Committee for Livestock and Poultry.

The watch committee was last created pursuant to DA Special Order No. 124, series of 2022.

In an interview with reporters, Agriculture Assistant Secretary Kristine Evangelista said the reconvening of the watch committee and advisory groups for livestock and poultry price and volume “will be helpful… so that we can assess the sufficiency of any commodity but particularly in livestock.”

In particular, the role of the watch committee is to serve as the technical advisory body to the DA secretary in terms of supply and demand situation of livestock commodities, meat and meat products prices, and volume gaps.

The committee is also tasked to formulate situational analysis and adoption measures and evaluate policy options to address issues on supply, importation, prices, and inventories.

The committee shall be composed of the Assistant Secretary for Consumer Affairs as chairperson and the director of the Bureau of Animal Industry as co-chairperson.

The panel will also have representatives from the National Livestock Program, Philippine Council for Agriculture and Fisheries, National Meat Inspection Service, Philippine Carabao Center, National Dairy Authority, Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Service, DA-Minimum Access Volume, National Corn Program and Philippine Coconut Authority.

The Bureau of Animal Industry-Livestock Research and Development Division shall serve as the committee’s secretariat.

In a press conference, United Broilers Raisers Association president Elias Jose Inciong welcomed the DA’s latest order, but suggested that other government agencies be involved as well.

Inciong said the National Economic and Development Authority, Philippine Statistics Authority, Department of Finance and Bureau of Customs should also be part of the committee for “a complete consultative arrangement.”

Evangelista welcomed Inciong's suggestion, saying “it would be helpful so we can see all sides, different perspectives and come up with a solution.”

“Sometimes every now and then, they are also part of the group that has to find ways to correct inflation… Having other agencies involved will probably be beneficial,” she said.

In the same order dated, the DA also reconvened the advisory groups for Livestock and Poultry, composed of Swine Advisory Group, Broiler and Layer Advisory Group, Meat Importers and Processors Advisory Group, Ruminant Advisory Group, and Vendors Advisory Group.

The advisory groups are tasked to assist in the close monitoring of livestock, poultry, eggs, meat and meat product prices, and other allied industries such as feeds including demand and supply trends.

The groups are also mandated to provide reliable industry information regarding the prices of livestock, poultry, eggs, meat and meat products, and other allied industries as well as assist in the development and implementation of programs that enhance the predictability of production and consumption of the said agricultural commodities.

The DA order also directed the establishment of regional price and volume watch committees and advisory groups for major livestock and poultry-producing regions such as the Ilocos Region, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Northern Mindanao, and Soccsksargen.—LDF, GMA Integrated News