The Department of Agriculture (DA) has reconstituted its Inter-Agency Livestock Data Analytics Group (LDAG), a strategic move aimed at strengthening the agency’s ability to craft data-driven policies for the meat and poultry industries, according to a statement released Monday.
The initiative, formalized under Special Order No. 599, series of 2025, was signed by Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. on 10 April and made public only this week. The reactivation comes amid continued price volatility and supply fluctuations in the livestock sector, with the group mandated to ensure market stability while protecting both producers and consumers.
“This is about safeguarding and promoting the growth of the industry—even as we protect consumers,” Tiu Laurel said. “The market is dynamic, hence the need for better and more reliable information for accurate forecasts and timely decisions.”
Under the leadership of DA undersecretary for livestock Dante Palabrica, the LDAG will coordinate with the Philippine Statistics Authority and other commodity-specific agencies to collect, consolidate, and analyze key data points, including production levels, inventory, farmgate prices, and cold storage stocks.
The group will also develop scenario-based supply and demand outlooks, trend analyses, and regular situation reports to guide DA officials. Regular consultations with industry stakeholders are also planned to validate findings and ensure policies are grounded in actual market conditions.
The move is seen as a significant step in institutionalizing evidence-based policymaking within the DA, particularly as the agency navigates challenges in managing food supply chains.
Latest DA market monitoring shows pork ham selling at P335–P400/kg and chicken eggs at P7.50–P9 per piece in Metro Manila, highlighting the sector’s fluctuating price dynamics that the reformed LDAG aims to better manage.
