1 EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) SENATE OF THE PHILIPPINES ) First Regular Session ) S E N A T E S. No. ______ Prepared by NEDA (for TWG discussion) AN ACT TO DEVELOP THE LIVESTOCK, POULTRY, AND DAIRY INDUSTRY VALUE CHAIN, INCLUDING THE STRENGTHENING OF ITS DISEASE PREVENTION, CONTROL AND REGULATORY FUNCTIONS, AVAILABILITY OF AFFORDABLE AND QUALITY FEEDS, PROMOTION OF DAIRY AND NATIVE ANIMALS AND TO PROVIDE FOR A LIVESTOCK, POULTRY , DAIRY, AND RELATED FEEDS COMPETITIVENESS FUNDS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled: Section 1. Title. – This Act shall be known as the "Livestock Development and 1 Competitiveness” law of 2021. 2 Sec. 2. Declaration of Policies. – It is hereby the declared policy of the State to 3 promote the development and competitiveness of the livestock, poultry, and dairy 4 industries, particularly the small-hold livestock, poultry, and dairy raisers, in order to 5 increase the supply of meat, eggs, milk, and other livestock, poultry, and dairy 6 products, improve the domestic supply of breeders, enhance the availability and 7 affordability of feeds and forage, promote food safety and quality standards of 8 livestock, poultry, and dairy products, and attain greater food security in food, 9 livestock, poultry, and dairy commodities. It is likewise the policy of the State to 10 increase the income of farmers and farm workers and to alleviate rural poverty 11 through improved productivity and competitiveness, product diversification, job 12 generation, enhanced production efficiency, and protection of the livestock, poultry , 13 and dairy industries from pests and diseases. 14 2 Towards this end, the State shall nurture an enabling environment and 1 establish more responsive government policies and support programs to develop the 2 whole value chain of the livestock, poultry, and dairy industries in the country, and 3 raise the cost-effectiveness of regulations on animal disease prevention and control, 4 enforcement of food safety and quality standards on livestock, poultry, and dairy 5 produce and processed products with least disruptive effects on trade and value chains 6 of these industries. 7 The State recognizes the vital role of the private sector as partners in the 8 various facets of the livestock, poultry, and dairy industries, and the organization of 9 livestock, poultry, and dairy farmers to be more competitive and shall provide 10 incentives and the needed support to encourage stronger partnership and 11 consolidation. 12 Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. – As used in this Act, the following terms and 13 phrases shall mean as follows: 14 a) Animal disease prevention and control – a function that includes activities 15 on effective surveillance, early detection, transparency, and rapid 16 response mechanisms to prevent and control animal diseases; 17 b) Backyard raiser – refers to a livestock or poultry farmer tending to at least 18 one head of animal and does not qualify as a commercial operator; 19 c) Commercial operator – refers to a livestock or poultry operator 20 which satisfies at least one of the following conditions: tending at least 21 21 heads of adult and at least zero head of young; tending at least 41 heads 22 of young animals; tending at least 10 heads of adult and at least 22 heads 23 of young; at least 500 layer, or 1,000 broiler chicken; at least 100 layers 24 and 100 broilers if raised in combination; at least 100 birds of duck 25 regardless of age; 26 d) Corn – refers to products under the ASEAN harmonized tariff 27 nomenclature (AHTN) code 1005.90.90 classified under the harmonized 28 commodity description and coding system (HS) heading no. 10.05. 29 3 Further, it refers to corn (yellow corn) which is largely utilized for animal 1 feed in the country; 2 e) Feed wheat – refers to products with AHTN code 1001.99.99 under HS 3 no. 10.01. It is a main substitute to corn used for feeds; 4 f) Department – shall refer to the Department of Agriculture (DA); 5 g) Feeds – is any single or multiple materials, whether processed, semi- 6 processed or raw, which is intended to be fed directly to domesticated 7 animals to meet the nutrient requirements in order to maintain life, 8 promote growth, production and reproduction without any additional 9 substance except water; 10 h) Livestock – domesticated animals with four legs reared in captivity mainly 11 for agricultural purposes, as well as for final and intermediate 12 consumption; 13 i) Poultry – a collective term for all domesticated avian reared in captivity 14 mainly for agricultural purposes, as well as for final and intermediate 15 consumption; 16 j) Dairy imports – refers to imported products with the following HS heading 17 or AHTN codes: 0401, 0402, 0403, 0404, 0405 and 0406; 18 k) Livestock imports – refers to imported products with the following HS 19 heading or AHTN codes: 0203, 0206.30.00, 0206.41.00, 0206.49.00, 20 0209.10.00, 0210.11.00, 0210.12.00, 0210.19.30, and 0210.99.20; 21 l) Poultry imports – refers to imported products with the following AHTN 22 codes: 0207.11.00, 0207.12.00, 0207.13.00, 0207.14.10, 0207.14.20, 23 0207.14.30, 0207.14.91, 0207.14.99, 0209.90.00, 0210.19.90, 24 0210.99.10, 0210.99.90; 25 m) Native Animals – Native animals refer to domesticated animals which 26 contribute to food production found in one geographical location that have 27 4 developed unique physical characteristics, behavior, product attributes, 1 adapted to the local environment and are products of selection with no 2 infusion of exotic breeds for at least five (5) generations, including, but 3 not limited to, native chicken, goats, pigs, ducks, cattle and horses; 4 n) Philippine Native Animal Development Centers – refers to a network of 5 stock and breeding farms and laboratories dedicated to the nurturing, 6 maintenance, and development of the country's native animals for food 7 production purposes; 8 o) Small-hold Farmer – refers to a farmer owning or cultivating five (5) 9 hectares or less of farmland. Furthermore, it refers to livestock or poultry 10 raiser tending at least one head or bird of animals and does not qualify as 11 commercial operator. 12 p) Stock Farms – refers to the network of stock and breeding farms and 13 facilities owned and operated by the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) and 14 the other government livestock, poultry, and dairy agencies for the 15 purpose of demonstration of livestock, poultry, and dairy farming 16 technologies and other programs; 17 q) Food security – refers to the situation when all people, at all times, have 18 physical, social, and economic access to sufficient, affordable, safe, and 19 nutritious food that meets their food preferences and dietary needs; 20 r) Value chain – a ‘value chain’ in agriculture identifies the set of actors and 21 activities that bring a basic agricultural product from production in the 22 field to final consumption, where at each stage value is added to the 23 product. A value chain can be a vertical linking or a network between 24 various independent business organizations and can involve processing, 25 packaging, storage, transport, and distribution. 26 Sec. 4. Philippine Livestock, Poultry, and Dairy Value Chain Development 27 Roadmap. – The Philippine Livestock and Poultry Authority (PLPA), established under 28 Section 6 of this Act, shall lead, in coordination with the concerned government 29 5 agencies and units mentioned from items (a) to (k) of this Section and livestock, 1 poultry, dairy, and corn industry stakeholders, the formulation of a ten-year roadmap 2 for Livestock, Poultry, and Dairy Value Chain Development to be updated every five 3 years. Within one hundred twenty (120) days from the effectivity of this Act, the 4 Roadmap shall be submitted by the PLPA to the Philippine Livestock and Poultry 5 Authority Advisory Board (PLPAAB, established under Section 5 of this Act, for 6 approval. Likewise, the DA National Corn Program shall update its corn industry 7 roadmap within thirty (30) days after the release of the Livestock, Poultry, and Dairy 8 Value Chain Development Roadmap. 9 The roadmap will include the development of the corn industry to sufficiently 10 support the demand for feeds of the livestock, poultry, and dairy industries. Such 11 roadmap shall serve as guide to the formulation and implementation of plans, 12 programs, and projects for the propagation, utilization, and development of the 13 livestock, poultry, and dairy industries as well as corn per region nationwide. The 14 roadmap will primarily be implemented by the PLPA. 15 The roadmap shall include the following but not limited to: 16 a) Breeder Availability and Upgrading Programs. – The PLPA shall endeavor to 17 increase the total population of livestock and poultry in the country in terms 18 of quantity and quality through support programs for genetic improvement 19 and upgrading, establishment of more semen banks, and natural and 20 artificial breeding stations, and animal dispersal programs, as well as 21 accreditation of breeding farms; 22 b) Corn development programs. – The PLPA, in partnership with the DA 23 National Corn Program, shall improve support for the diversification of the 24 use, such as corn silage, and development of the local corn industry; 25 c) Pasture crops and animal feeds programs. – The PLPA shall establish 26 enhanced support for the development of pasture, forage crops, fish meals, 27 protein rich non-corn crops that can be utilized as animal feeds such as but 28 not limited to soybean, oil palm, coconut, cottonseed, peanut, chickpea, 29 6 cowpea, mungbean, and cassava, and animal feeds resources and 1 infrastructure; 2 d) Native animal programs. The PLPA shall strengthen support for the 3 propagation, processing, utilization, and development of native animals. 4 e) Animal Health Welfare and Protection. – The Bureau of Animal Safety and 5 Regulations (BASR), established under Section 7 of this Act, shall take the 6 lead, in coordination with Local Government Units (LGUs), in the 7 implementation of prevention, control, containment, and eradication of 8 animal pests and diseases by providing veterinary health services and 9 general livestock, poultry, and dairy health support programs. It shall 10 implement continuing programs on surveillance, quarantine and laboratory 11 service, vaccination, animal movement control, monitoring and 12 management of potential epidemic threats, and public awareness 13 campaigns on livestock, poultry, and dairy safety; 14 f) Enterprise Development. – The PLPA shall promote the establishment of 15 livestock, poultry, and dairy credit facilities for small-hold farmers, 16 cooperatives, and farmer organizations together with financial literacy 17 programs and "farming as business" training programs with technical 18 support from the Agriculture Training Institute (ATI), Technical Education 19 and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and relevant local training 20 institutes; 21 g) Training and Extension. – In consultation with the ATI, TESDA-Accredited 22 Farm Schools, state universities and colleges (SUCs), LGUs, and other 23 relevant institutions, the PLPA shall provide support to training extension 24 services to small farmers, cooperatives, and farmer organizations on 25 technologies and good practice in the propagation, utilization, marketing, 26 processing and distribution of livestock, poultry, dairy, and native animals; 27 h) Market Promotion Programs. – The PLPA shall support livestock, poultry, 28 and dairy auction markets, trade fairs, export initiatives, and encourage 29 7 contract growing arrangements between farmers cooperatives or 1 organizations and institutional buyers of livestock, poultry, and dairy 2 produce. It shall coordinate with the DA-Agribusiness and Marketing 3 Assistance Service (AMAS) and Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) on price 4 and quantity monitoring on farm-gate livestock, poultry, and dairy produce, 5 eggs, meat, milk and livestock, poultry, and dairy feeds and other inputs; 6 i) Research and Development (R&D). – The PLPA shall strengthen research 7 collaborations through the Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR), Philipp ine 8 Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and 9 Development (DOST -PCAARRD), and SUC-based research institutions for 10 technical support in the areas of genetic resource improvement programs 11 (including native animals), pasture seeds and crops for animal food, crop 12 and non-crop protein rich sources as animal feeds, and product processing 13 that promote the development and competitiveness of the livestock, 14 poultry, and dairy industries; 15 j) Food Safety and Quality Assurance. – Consistent with the RA No. 10611 16 (Food Safety Act), the BASR shall support the Food and Drug Administration 17 (FDA) in the enforcement and regulation of food safety and quality 18 standards on livestock, poultry, and dairy produce and by-products. The 19 BASR shall also implement food safety and quality enhancement programs 20 to improve the compliance levels of the livestock, poultry, and dairy sub- 21 sectors to ensure higher levels of competitiveness and faster growth of the 22 livestock, poultry, and dairy industries. Subject to the relevant provisions of 23 RA No. 11032 (Ease of Doing Business Act of 2018), the BASR shall assist 24 the FDA in hastening the registration and approval of livestock, poultry, and 25 dairy processing establishments that serve as markets for primary livestock, 26 poultry, and dairy produce. It shall provide advisory assistance on technical 27 matters to help registrants of livestock-, poultry-, and dairy-related 28 processing facilities, packaging plants, dairy pasteurization facilities, and 29 processed cheese production comply with food safety regulations and 30 standards. When such applications for registration or renewal of licenses of 31 8 said livestock, poultry, and dairy processing establishment exceed, without 1 compelling grounds, the processing time limits set forth in RA No. 11032 – 2 reckoning from the date of receipt of said applications – the BASR is hereby 3 authorized to receive the applications and approve the same, in support of 4 the FDA, and subject to the standards, protocols and criteria prescribed by 5 it. 6 k) Livestock, Poultry, and Dairy Production Networks Program. – The PLPA 7 shall formulate and implement livestock, poultry, and dairy cluster 8 development programs for small-hold farmers ’ cooperatives, associations, 9 organizations and/or federations in order to encourage economies of scale, 10 production efficiencies, bargaining power of farmers, mutual support, and 11 maximize the coordination and dissemination of government interventions. 12 l) Livestock, Poultry, and Dairy Processing Program. – The PLPA shall 13 formulate programs that will enhance the value-addition and value-adding 14 opportunities of the processing of livestock and poultry meat, and dairy 15 milk. 16 Provided, that the utilization of the Livestock, Poultry, Dairy, and Related Feeds 17 Competitiveness Enhancement Funds, created under Section 17 of this Act, shall be 18 in accordance with the objectives and targets of this roadmap. 19 Sec. 5. Establishment of the Philippine Livestock and Poultry Development 20 Authority Advisory Board. – There is hereby created a Philippine Livestock and Poultry 21 Development Authority Advisory Board (PLPAAB) to oversee and provide policy 22 directions on the integrated implementation of the programs funded by the Livestock, 23 Poultry, Dairy, and Related Feeds Competitiveness Enhance Funds in accordance with 24 the Livestock, Poultry, and Dairy Value Chain Development Roadmap. The PLPAAB 25 shall be comprised of: (1) the Secretary of DA, as Chairperson; (2) the Administrator 26 of PLPA, as the Vice Chairperson; (3) the Assistant Secretary of BASR; (4) the 27 Secretary of National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA); (5) the Secretary 28 of Department of Finance (DOF); (6) the Secretary of Department of Science and 29 9 Technology (DOST); (7) the Secretary of Department Trade and Industry (DTI); and 1 one representative each from the livestock, poultry, dairy, and corn industry . 2 Sec. 6. Rationalization of Developmental Functions of the Livestock and Poultry 3 Support Agencies. – The BAI (created under RA No. 3639), the Philippine Carabao 4 Center (PCC) (created under RA No. 7307), and the National Dairy Authority (NDA) 5 (created under RA No. 7884) are hereby merged, subject to further rationalization, to 6 form the PLPA, which shall be headed by an Undersecretary of the DA. 7 The PLPA shall implement and supervise the following developmental functions 8 and programs: 9 1. National Livestock Program of the DA; 10 2. Meat Establishment Improvement Program (MEIP) of the National Meat 11 Inspection Service (NMIS); and 12 3. Livestock, poultry, and dairy-related functions of DA-Regional Field Offices 13 (DA-RFOs), (e.g., provision of animal stocks, drugs and biologics, training, 14 machinery and equipment, establishment of multiplier or breeder farms and 15 other facilities, among other). 16 The PLPA’ s main goals and functions are to: 17 1. Promote the competitive development of the value chain of the livestock, 18 poultry, and dairy industries and the various subgroups within the livestock, 19 poultry, and dairy sector as means of attaining food security and combating 20 rural poverty; and 21 2. Develop, maintain, and access big data or technologies able to handle vast 22 amounts of structured and unstructured data to provide timely, accurate, 23 and responsive information to PLPA and BASR management, livestock, 24 poultry, and dairy farmers, farmer organizations and cooperatives, and 25 other players in the value chain of the livestock, poultry , and dairy sector. 26 The PLPA shall have the following offices under it: 27 10 1. Livestock, Poultry and Dairy Industry Development (LPDID) Office – which 1 shall be headed by an Assistant Secretary. The LPDID Office shall coordinate 2 the formulation and implementation of policies, programs, and roadmaps to 3 hasten and sustain the development of the various livestock, poultry, dairy 4 and native animal sub-sectors, consistent with the pertinent industry 5 development mandates under Sections 3-1, 6 and 7 of Act 3639 of 1930 6 (BAI), as well as in Sections 5 and 6 of RA No. 7307 (PCC) and Sections 3, 7 6, 11, 12 and 13 of RA No. 7884 (NDA) and the RA No. 8435 (Agriculture 8 and Fisheries Modernization Act of 1997 – AFMA). These shall include 9 programs that enhance the value chain of the livestock, poultry, and dairy 10 sectors, such as improving industry utilization of livestock, poultry, and dairy 11 R&D, supporting market development and marketing services, enhancing 12 the quality, availability and affordability of inputs for livestock, poultry, and 13 dairy, improving processing, value-addition and diversification of by- 14 products, as well as development of sources of feeds and forage. There 15 shall be particular focus on developing strategic livestock, poultry, and dairy 16 production zones, clusters and networks in every province and/or rural 17 district, and linking small hold farms, cooperatives, farmer organizations, 18 and community-based ventures, sources of credit and financing, and LGU 19 support into sustainable enterprise ecosystems. 20 With these goals, LPDID Office shall supervise the following Services, 21 which are hereby also created, namely: 22 a) Ruminants Service (RS) – to provide developmental support, 23 extension services, research, and technical assistance programs to 24 small hold farmers of cattle, carabaos, buffaloes, goats, and sheep 25 for meat production and processing as well as for draft animal 26 purposes. The RS shall absorb the following units of the BAI, 27 subject to further rationalization: 28 National Beef Cattle Research and Development Center 29 National Small Ruminants Research and Development Center 30 11 b) Non-ruminants Service (NRS) – to provide developmental support, 1 extension services, research, and technical assistance programs to 2 small hold producers of hogs, poultry and egg, ducks, geese, 3 turkey, quails and other birds, and all other livestock production 4 including, but not limited to horses, rabbits, and beehive farming. 5 The NRS shall absorb the following units of the BAI, subject to 6 further rationalization: 7 National Swine and Poultry Research and Development Center 8 National Stud Farms and horse development centers, created 9 by virtue of R.A. 4618 10 The NRS shall continue the stud and racehorse development 11 programs under R.A. 4618, R.A. 7952 (Philippine Racing Club), R.A. 12 7978 (Metro Manila Turf Club, Inc.), and RA 8007 (Manila Jockey 13 Club). 14 c) Dairy Development Service (DDS) – shall, in addition to the current 15 focus on cows, include carabaos and small ruminants as priorities, 16 with the end in view of increasing milk production in the Philipp ines 17 towards minimum of ten percent (10%) per year. Subject to further 18 rationalization, the DDS shall assume the development mandates, 19 programs, assets, and personnel of the following agencies: 20 PCC created under R.A. 7307 21 NDA created under R.A. 7884 22 National Feed Resources Research and Development Center 23 The DDS shall continue and improve upon the dairy production and 24 livelihood programs of the PCC and NDA, and their partnerships 25 with stakeholders, including SUCs, especially in dairy cow and 26 buffalo breeding, propagation of dairy animals and milk production 27 12 technologies, and the pasteurization and initial processing of raw 1 milk. It shall expand the coverage of services in providing artificia l 2 insemination, bull loan program, frozen semen dissemination, dairy 3 animal modules, forage and feeds development, training of 4 technicians and farmers, R&D, technical assistance and extension, 5 analysis of milk samples, nutrition laboratory services, and 6 marketing of dairy products and promotion of dairy farmers 7 cooperatives, associations, or organizations. It shall facilitate 8 industry networks and investment in milk production, collection and 9 handling, processing, trading, and marketing of Philippine milk 10 produce, including promotion through specialty dairy kiosks and in 11 international markets. The DDS shall also coordinate the 12 implementation of a national milk feeding program in partnership 13 with the Department of Education (DepEd) and/or the Department 14 of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and LGUs. 15 d) Native Animal Development Service (NADS) – The Philippine Native 16 Animal Development Center is hereby upgraded to become the 17 NADS, which shall be responsible for the identificatio n, 18 conservation, propagation, and promotion of Philippine native 19 animals, including native pigs, poultry, ducks, deer, and horses 20 through the use of appropriate technology as sources of meat, 21 eggs, and other by-products, and help increase incomes of farmers. 22 It shall also be responsible for the establishment of a gene pool of 23 Philippine animals as well as their registration as native animal 24 species of the Philippines in the Food and Agriculture Organization 25 (FAO) and/or other international intellectual property registry 26 bodies. To promote the propagation, processing, utilization, and 27 development of Philippine native animals, there shall be created in 28 each of the three major island groups at least one native animal 29 development center, to be known as the Philippine Native Animal 30 Development Center for Luzon, for Visayas, and for Mindanao, 31 13 respectively, to ensure the distributed implementation of native 1 animal policies and development programs, and make them 2 accessible to farmers in their respective island groups. NADS is 3 authorized to acquire properties, receive donations, or grants for 4 the establishment of said centers. It shall have a yearly native 5 animals dispersal program for rural communities that receive and 6 are able to demonstrate adequate social preparation and technical 7 trainings. 8 In addition to the above, the Research and Marketing Service (RMS) and 9 the Training and Extension Service (TES) are hereby also created, which 10 shall report directly to the head of the PLPA, with the following functions 11 and objectives: 12 The RMS shall be responsible for studies and proposals for 13 livestock, poultry, dairy and meat consumer protection, consumer 14 attitudes, buyer behavior, product satisfaction, and consumer 15 experience apart from generating information on product quality 16 standards and new livestock, poultry, and dairy products. The RMS 17 shall absorb the Livestock Research and Development Division of 18 the BAI. 19 The TES shall be responsible for organizing and coordinating 20 livestock, poultry, and dairy training and educational programs in 21 partnership with LGUs, cooperatives federations, farmer 22 organizations or associations, regional offices of DA, and the ATI 23 in order to promote and upgrade the farmers' skills and practices 24 in livestock, poultry, and dairy animal care, production, processing, 25 storage, handling, marketing, transport, and the overall 26 management of livestock, poultry, and dairy farms. 27 2. Livestock, Poultry, and Dairy Management Information System (LPDMIS) 28 Office – which shall be headed by an Assistant Secretary. The LPDMIS, in 29 coordination with the PSA and other relevant government agencies, shall 30 14 empower the livestock, poultry, and dairy farmers, farmer organizations or 1 associations, cooperatives, and other relevant players along the livestock, 2 poultry, and dairy value chain through timely, accurate and responsive 3 business information and efficient trading services. 4 The LPDMIS shall setup the National Information Network (NIN) in the 5 Information Communication Technology Service (ICTS) Office of the DA 6 within one hundred eighty (180) days from the approval of this Act. 7 Furthermore, the NIN shall provide information and marketing services 8 related to livestock, poultry, and dairy (LPD) which shall include but not 9 limited to the following data down to the provincial level: 10 a) LPD supply data (this includes but not limited to LPD inventory, 11 production data, exports, and imports); 12 b) LPD demand data; 13 c) Crop and non-crop animal feed inputs data (production, prices, 14 imports, and exports) 15 d) Animal feed data (inventory and prices); 16 e) Price and price trends (include farm-gate, wholesale, and retail prices 17 of LPD and corn); 18 f) Best practices in LPD animal care, LPD production, and LPD processing; 19 g) Local and international product standards for both primary and 20 processed LPD products; 21 h) Directory of, but not limited to, LPD backyard raisers, cooperatives, 22 farmer organizations, commercial LPD producers, traders, key market 23 centers, feed millers, processors and business institutions concerned 24 with LPD; 25 15 i) Research information and technology generated from research 1 institutions involved in LPD; 2 j) Information on pest, diseases, and epidemics to ensure food safety and 3 animal health protection; 4 k) International, national, regional, and provincial market forecast; 5 l) Support extension providers relevant information; and 6 m) Data relating to programs of the PLPA and BASR (this includes but not 7 limited to importation of breeds, artificial insemination, natural 8 breeding, buy-back programs, etc.). 9 The NIN shall be linked to the PSA database and website for easy access 10 of users to data on livestock, poultry, and dairy information. 11 Sec. 7. Rationalization of Regulatory Functions of the Livestock and Poultry 12 Support Agencies. – The regulatory roles of the NMIS (created under Presidential 13 Decree no. 7, s. 1972 as amended by RA no. 9296) and the BAI (created under RA 14 no. 3639) are hereby merged, subject to further rationalization, to form the BASR, 15 which shall be headed by an Assistant Secretary under the supervision of the 16 Undersecretary for Regulations of the Department. 17 The BASR shall also implement and supervise the regulatory functions and 18 programs related to livestock, poultry, and dairy of the NDA, PCC, and the DA-RFOs. 19 The BASR shall have the following principal goals and functions: 20 1. To undertake regulatory and monitoring services in order to ensure the 21 health of the livestock, poultry, and dairy herds of the country, quality 22 standards of production and processing, and food safety of primary 23 produce of the livestock, poultry, and dairy sectors in the country; 24 2. To harness the support of various sectors and networks, including the 25 LGUs, in protecting the health and welfare of the livestock, poultry, and 26 16 dairy sectors and in responding to threats that may be brought about by 1 pests, diseases, and animal epidemics; and 2 3. To pursue a risk-based and evidence-supported regulatory approach in 3 enforcing food safety and protecting animal health in a manner that is 4 least disruptive to the development of the livestock, poultry , and dairy 5 sectors and the trade of their products. 6 The BASR shall have the following offices under it: 7 1. Livestock, Poultry, and Dairy Regulation Office (LPDRO) – to be headed 8 by the Assistant Secretary of BASR, which shall oversee the followin g 9 Service groups: 10 a) Import and Export Regulation Service (IERS) – shall provide 11 regulatory services as mandated under prior livestock, poultry, and 12 dairy import regulatory laws, including Act 3101 (1923), RA No. 13 1071, RA No. 1156, P.O. No. 34 section 105(r), and coordinate with 14 relevant units, agencies and/or institutions, including the Bureau of 15 Customs and the Department of Transportation, in developing 16 strategies and measures to deal with the country’s livestock -, 17 poultry-, and dairy- related imports and exports, including livestock, 18 poultry, and dairy inputs, and to prevent and minimize health and 19 environmental risks. The following divisions of the BAI shall be part 20 of this Service group: 21 Animal Feeds, Veterinary Drugs and Biologics Control Division 22 (AFVDBD) 23 National Veterinary Quarantine Services Division (NVQSD) 24 b) Livestock and Poultry Inspection Service (LPIS) – shall inherit the 25 powers and functions, assets, and the organization of the NMIS 26 created under RA No. 9296, as amended by RA No. 10536, except 27 for the roles related to the import and export of meats which shall 28 17 be assumed by IERS. The LPIS shall continue to be the controlling 1 authority in the enforcement of all policies, regulations, guidelines , 2 and standards pertaining to primary meat products, meat handling, 3 safety, quality, hygiene, and sanitation, including assisting the 4 Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Standards (BAFS) in the 5 formulation of safety and quality standards for meat produce. 6 Through its Regional Operation Centers, it shall continue to conduct 7 inspection and monitoring, in coordination with local government 8 units, of meat establishments engaged in slaughter, processing, and 9 domestic meat trade; registration of meat produce inspectors, meat 10 handlers meat brokers, meat products processing establishments; 11 and accreditation of facilities, conveyances and service providers for 12 Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point Program (HACCP) audit as well 13 as compliance to hygiene and sanitation standards. 14 c) Livestock, Poultry, and Dairy Protection and Disease Control Service 15 (LPDPDCS) – shall, in addition to the roles of the BAI mandated 16 under Sections 2, 3, 4 and 5 of Act 3639 of 1930, be responsible for 17 programs, policies, surveillance, and emergency action to protect 18 the livestock, poultry, and dairy industries from the risk of outbreak 19 of diseases or pests and shall have the following powers and 20 functions: 21 Livestock, poultry, and dairy protection surveillance, includ ing 22 regular surveillance inspections in partnership with industry 23 players and the LGUs, in coordination with the World 24 Organization for Animal Health, Codex Alimentarius, Sanitary 25 and Phytosanitary (SPS) Secretariat of the World Trade 26 Organization, international not-for-profit organizations in the 27 veterinary service sectors, its counterpart offices in other 28 countries and implementing capability building programs in 29 partnership with the ATI to establish livestock, poultry, and dairy 30 protection surveillance and emergency communications 31 18 networks, that will include farmers groups, LGUs, the police and 1 military, and other stakeholders; 2 Pest and disease emergency response by way of developing 3 protocols and responses upon declaration of any livestock , 4 poultry, or dairy pest and epidemic disease incident, includ ing 5 regulation of movement of persons, conveyances, and plant 6 material in affected areas, powers to deputize police and military 7 to control pest outbreaks, and disposal of affected livestock , 8 poultry, or dairy resources and assets; 9 Conducting scientific research and technology advancement 10 programs on livestock protection by partnering with SUCs, 11 DOST, private sector laboratories, and international centers for 12 livestock, poultry, and dairy disease control. 13 The following units of the BAI are hereby merged and consolidated 14 into the LPDPDCS, subject to further rationalization, to wit: 15 Animal Health and Welfare Division (AHWD) 16 Veterinary Laboratory Division (VLD) 17 Sec. 8. Authority in Livestock, Poultry, and Dairy Pest and Diseases-related 18 Emergencies. – With the LPDPDCS as its implementing arm, the BASR is hereby 19 designated as the overall coordinating government body in the event of any livestock , 20 poultry, and dairy pest or epidemic incident that may be deemed to have the potential 21 to reduce the livestock, poultry, or dairy population in any region by at least two 22 percent (2%). The BASR head shall have the authority to call for the creation or 23 activation of the Animal and Livestock Emergency Response Task Force (ALERTF) to 24 be composed of key officials at the regional level from the following agencies: 25 1. Department of Agriculture – Regional Office; 26 2. Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) – Regional Office; 27 19 3. Philippine National Police (PNP) and/or Philippine Army (PA) – Regional 1 Command; 2 4. Department of Health (DOH); 3 5. Department of Science and Technology (DOST); 4 6. Provincial governor and/or Provincial Agriculturist; 5 7. Congressional Representative of the affected district; 6 8. Mayors of the affected municipalities/cities; and 7 9. Other science experts on the case. 8 Sec. 9. Transfer of Supervision and Functions. – All on-going programs and 9 functions of the merged and re-grouped divisions and centers, including the NDA and 10 PCC are hereby transferred to the PLPA and BASR service offices created in this bill, 11 but shall continue to be operational until such time as the head of the new Agency is 12 able to implement a rationalization and reengineering program to align their functions, 13 programs and activities to the objectives of this Act. The affected personnel who may 14 opt for early separation shall be entitled to receive separation benefits equivalent to 15 two months of salaries for every year of service in government. 16 The BAI stock farms and research centers found in, among others: Gen. Tinio, 17 Nueva Ecija; Tiaong, Quezon; Lipa, Batangas; Busuanga, and Coron in Palawan; 18 Dumarao, Capiz; Milagros in Masbate; Malaybalay, Bukidnon; Ubay, Bohol and the 19 two separate forage centers/stations in Labangan, Zamboanga del Sur; the Philip p ine 20 Carabao Center, including its headquarters in Munoz, Nueva Ecija; and its regional 21 centers in La Carlota, Negros Occidental; Ubay, Bohol and Calauit, Zamboanga del 22 Norte; and the various physical and financial assets (including all receivables) of the 23 National Dairy Authority shall be transferred under the title, care and administrativ e 24 supervision of the LPDID Office to primarily the needs of small-hold farmers as the 25 base locations for purposes of human resource development and livestock training, 26 gene pool support facilities, livestock breeding, extension work, demonstration 27 activities, and trade promotion activities. 28 20 Sec. 10. Exemption from Taxes and Duties. – The livestock, poultry, and dairy 1 animals, veterinary and other supplies, farm inputs, dairy equipment and machineries, 2 and research equipment (including their spare parts) as listed in annex “ A ” of this Act 3 and are actually, directly, and exclusively used by the small and micro producer 4 enterprises and/or cooperatives in the production of livestock, poultry, and dairy 5 and/or manufacture of livestock, poultry, and dairy by-products shall be exempt from 6 payment of custom duties and taxes. 7 The private livestock, poultry, and dairy stakeholders can also import breeders 8 and the like, subject to regulations to be established by the PLPA and the ease of 9 doing business act of 2018. The private livestock, poultry, and dairy importers shall 10 submit a status report to the PLPA on imported livestock and materials for monitoring 11 purposes. 12 Sec. 11. Lifting of Quantitative Import and Export Restrictions on Corn. – All 13 laws, rules, regulations, guidelines, and other issuances imposing quantitative import 14 and export restrictions on corn, except those related to the prevention and spread of 15 plant, animal pests and diseases, are hereby repealed. 16 Sec. 12. Repeal of Presidential Decree 194. – Consistent with RA 11203 or the 17 Rice Tariffication Law, PD 194 is hereby repealed. 18 Sec. 13. Review of Livestock, Poultry, and Related Feeds Tariff Rates. 19 Consistent with the policies of this Act, the Tariff Commission shall review the most 20 favored nation (MFN) tariff rates on livestock, poultry, and corn imports originating 21 from non-Association of Southeast Asian Nation (ASEAN) World Trade Organization 22 (WTO) member states. Within sixty (60) days following the effectivity of this Act, the 23 Tariff Commission shall recommend to the NEDA Board the possible MFN rate 24 adjustments for livestock, poultry, and corn imports that will ensure the 25 competitiveness of the livestock, poultry, and dairy sectors. 26 Sec. 14. Powers of the President. – Consistent with the Philippine national 27 interest and the objective of safeguarding Filipino livestock, poultry, and corn farmers 28 and consumers, the President is hereby empowered to act with full delegated authority 29