President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has signed into law Republic Act 12308, or the Animal Industry Development and Competitiveness Act (AIDCA), which allocates ₱200 billion over the next 10 years to modernize the country’s livestock, poultry, and dairy sectors. The landmark legislation supports the administration’s broader goal of building a food-secure and resilient agricultural economy.
The law, signed on September 25 and set to take effect by mid-October following its publication in the Official Gazette, was welcomed by Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. He said its timing is symbolic, as it will coincide with World Food Day on October 16 — a fitting moment to mark the beginning of what he called a “turning point for Philippine agriculture.”
AIDCA elevates the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) to a line agency under the Department of Agriculture, giving it expanded regulatory authority. It also strengthens the Philippine Carabao Center (PCC) and the National Dairy Authority (NDA), assigning them broader mandates that now include biotechnology and vaccine development. These changes aim to build local capacity to develop vaccines and establish response protocols for major animal health threats such as African swine fever (ASF), Newcastle Disease, and Avian Influenza, reducing reliance on foreign supplies and enhancing national biosecurity.
At the heart of the law is the creation of the Animal Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (AnCEF), which will receive ₱20 billion annually from tariff collections on livestock, poultry, and dairy imports. A portion of this fund—26 percent—will go toward repopulation and herd build-up, with 70 percent allocated to the hog sector, 20 percent to poultry, and 5 percent each to native and other animals.
Beyond repopulation, AIDCA sets aside ₱1.2 billion for animal health promotion, ₱1.8 billion for recovery from biosecurity threats, and ₱7 billion for the modernization of postharvest infrastructure, including slaughterhouses and cold storage facilities. The law also supports feed development and improved access to affordable credit, especially for small farmers.
“This law is more than a funding mechanism—it is a bold commitment to the people who feed our country,” said Secretary Tiu Laurel. “It empowers farmers, protects consumers, and prepares our food systems for the future.”
