SUPPORT NEEDED. Five bills that support the strengthening and expanding of the country's livestock sector are now being proposed with the strong backing of the Department of Agriculture. DA Secretary William Dar said the country needs to secure food resources and one way to do this is to motivate livestock investors. (Photo courtesy of DA) MANILA - The Department of Agriculture (DA) has expressed its support for the passage of Senate Bill 139, known as the Philippine Livestock Industry Development Act, and four other bills geared to boost the livestock sector. In a statement on Thursday, DA Secretary William Dar said he is thankful for the efforts to help buoy the agriculture sector while citing other areas that needed attention. "With the right budget allocation and support from (the) government, the livestock industry will bounce back, contributing its share in total agriculture sector growth," Dar said. SB 139, authored mainly by Senators Cynthia Villar and Nancy Binay, seeks to strengthen the livestock industry to promote its development, protection, and regulatory functions. The bill covers dairy and native animals, and poultry. It aims to establish a livestock development fund to secure yearly government support. DA undersecretary for livestock Dr. William Medrano has also raised urgency for this bill, citing the serious challenges that the agriculture sector faces. "We perceive that this bill is very timely and critical to the overall and rapid development of the industry," Medrano said earlier in a virtual presentation. Under the proposed livestock bill, programs will be established aimed at improving the competitiveness of livestock and corn sectors. Meanwhile, the four other livestock development bills include Senate Bill 821, the Philippine Native Animal Development Act authored by Senator Sonny Angara; Senate Bill 1048 providing for direct financial assistance to backyard livestock raisers authored by Senator Ralph Recto; Senate Bill 1297, also known Livestock-Related Disease Diagnostic Laboratory Act authored by Sen. Lito Lapid; and Senate Bill 2176, also known as the Affordable Pork Act authored by Sen. Francis Pangilinan. (PNA) }