MANILA (September 29) — Nearly P20 billion in yearly co-investment options for the livestock industry may soon be made available by the Department of Agriculture (DA), giving private businesses a fresh chance to support government initiatives to improve post-harvest facilities, logistics, and infrastructure.
Agriculture Undersecretary Asis Perez stated that the sum currently allocated is roughly P18.16 billion per year, indicating the scope of government support for co-investment in the livestock industry.
At the Arangkada Philippines Investment Forum 2025, held at the Marriott Grand Ballroom in Pasay City, Perez stated, “So those companies that are good in processing, those that are good in post-harvest, please consider investing because the government will invest here as well”.
The proposal comes as the livestock bill is poised to expire if President Marcos does not sign it , which would codify and expand public-private partnerships (PPPs) in the industry.
Perez also stated that the government is considering a PPP framework for these investments to attract private sector participation while assuring efficient project delivery.The decision comes amid an overall fall in the country’s agricultural output, which fell by 2.2% to P1.725 trillion in 2024, the lowest in eight years, according to a January report from the Philippine Statistics Authority.
A reduction in productivity was attributed primarily to unfavorable weather and bug infestations.
The DA ascribed the reduction to the impact of unusual weather occurrences, pests, and diseases, which resulted in total losses of P57 billion in the agriculture and fisheries sectors last year.
According to the DA, El Niño, typhoons, volcanic eruptions, and pest and disease outbreaks caused 2.18 million metric tons of agricultural and livestock damage, resulting in losses of P57.78 billion for 1.4 million farmers.
