REP. Camille Villar has vowed to push for the approval of legislative proposals to improve and protect the chicken and poultry industries amid the difficulties that the sector is facing.
Villar, during the recently held 2024 Philippine Poultry Show & ILDEX Philippines event, stressed that "we have to support our chicken and poultry industries" as she noted it is "faced with numerous challenges."
Villar represented her mother, Sen. Cynthia Villar, who is the chairperson of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food.
"Our poultry sector is faced with numerous challenges: the presence of Avian Flu, the high input cost of feeds, and disease treatments that significantly affect poultry meat and egg production," the lawmaker from Las Piñas City said.
Villar also cited importation woes affecting the whole chicken value chain, from poultry owners to street food vendors.
"We have to support our chicken and poultry industries," she stressed as she highlighted their contributions to the economy through the provision of employment and strengthening food security.
The poultry sector in the first quarter of the year, accounted to P68.76 Billion.
"Chicken delivers vital nutrients for all age groups, including potassium, vitamin D, iron, and calcium; while egg is also a powerhouse of disease-fighting nutrients, high-quality protein, iron, vitamins, minerals, and carotenoids," she also said.
At the same time, Villar lauded the United Broilers and Raisers Association (UBRA) and the Philippine Egg Board Association (PEBA) for organizing the event.
Villar noted that UBRA, which promotes and advances the interests of the Philippine broiler industry and PEBA, which is composed of egg farmers, represent a combined layer population of more than 15 million birds nationwide.
"The Philippine Poultry Show & ILDEX Philippines, 2024 offered an unparalleled opportunity for professionals to connect, learn, and discover new ways to drive their businesses forward," she said.
She said conference attendees learned, among others, solutions to threats on food security, strategies for building resilience in the face of global challenges to the industry, innovative fiber strategies that can significantly enhance poultry performance, and the latest green oxidative chemistries and their effectiveness in controlling major pathogens, ensuring safer food production and processing.
She also said attendees were also exposed to technologies and innovation from the USA, Germany and Thailand which are now shaping the present and future of poultry and livestock production.
Villar said she is committed to pushing for the approval of the House of Representatives' counterpart measure of the livestock poultry and dairy development bill, which the Senate has already approved on third and final reading.
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