The Board of Investments (BOI) and the Department of Agriculture–Bureau of Animal Industry (DA-BAI) urged livestock and poultry stakeholders to adopt good animal husbandry practices (GAHP) to combat recurring disease outbreaks.
Officials who attended a forum in Quezon City on Sept. 10, 2025 cited the need to strengthen biosecurity and farm management. Only 45 farms have secured GAHP certification as of September 2025, a small fraction of the country’s thousands of farms.
The Philippines’ livestock and poultry industries contribute over 28 percent of the gross value added in agriculture, fishery and forestry. However, they are hampered by frequent outbreaks of African Swine Fever (ASF) and Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), which disrupt supply chains and increase reliance on imports.
“We highly appreciate the efforts of the DA in managing these diseases and keeping up with the needed support for repopulation and increased resilience of the industry,” said Ma. Corazon Halili-Dichosa, executive director of the BOI’s Industry Development Services.
She noted the importance of a “whole-of-government approach” for more impactful initiatives.
BOI and BAI officials said accelerating GAHP adoption is critical to reversing these setbacks and preparing the sector for long-term growth. GAHP certification, which is voluntary, is based on ten Philippine National Standards covering animal welfare, farm operations, environmental compliance, and facilities management.
“Through GAHP certification, we uphold practices that protect animal welfare, safeguard the environment, and secure industry resilience,” said Hyacinth Napiloy, chief of the BAI’s Animal Health and Welfare division.
The agencies noted that increasing the number of GAHP-certified farms would not only boost disease resilience but also attract new investments under incentives like the Strategic Investment Priority Plan (SIPP) and the CREATE MORE Act.
The BOI is exploring ways to integrate GAHP certification into supply chain development strategies and investment policies to mainstream the practices and boost the competitiveness of the country’s livestock and poultry production.
