THE Department of Agriculture (DA)—through its National Livestock Program (NLP) and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR)—strengthens its partnership with event management institution Informa Markets for the conduct of this year’s Livestock Philippines and its concurrent event, Aquaculture Philippines.
The Livestock and Aquaculture Philippines are part of the DA’s efforts to forge good relations with the private sector and key industry stakeholders to encourage them to actively participate in government-led initiatives toward agricultural and economic development in the country.
During the press conference at the Novotel Manila Araneta City last June 26, DA Assistant Secretary for Operations Arnel V. de Mesa assured that the Department would employ various initiatives tapping into every stakeholder’s strengths in the agriculture and fisheries sectors.
“This is one of the strategies of the Department to work hand-in-hand with the private sector and our key stakeholders to achieve our goal: a food-secure, safe, and sustainable livestock, poultry, and aquaculture industry,” said de Mesa, who also chairs the Livestock Philippines 2023 Inter-agency Steering Committee.
Informa Markets Regional Portfolio Director for ASEAN Rose Chitanuwat introduced the Livestock and Aquaculture Philippines as the largest annual international trade fair for the Philippine livestock, poultry, and aquaculture industries, bringing together about 300 suppliers of agricultural feeds, machinery and equipment, management systems, and solutions from 32 countries.
“It is a trade exhibition, business-to-business, with the aim to [make] the supply chain of the livestock and aquaculture industries grow efficiently, effectively, and sustainably,” Chitanuwat said.
Around 10,000 farmers, traders, visitors, and stakeholders from the Philippine livestock, poultry, and aquaculture supply chains will participate in this year’s expo.
The 2023 expo embodies the theme “Ecosystem of Livestock and Poultry Production on Food Security, Safety, And Sustainability.” It will occur at the World Trade Center Metro Manila, Pasay City, from July 5 to 7, 2023.
President and Agriculture Secretary Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and DA Senior Undersecretary Domingo F. Panganiban will lead the event kick-off.
Experts from the government and the private sectors will present the latest market trends, news, research, and other developments in the Philippine livestock, poultry, and aquaculture subsectors through various conferences, technical seminars, and other on-site activities.
This year’s roster of exhibitors includes the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI), the National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS), the National Dairy Authority (NDA), the Philippine Carabao Center (PCC), the International Training Center on Pig Husbandry (ITCPH), the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI), the Philippine Council for Agriculture and Fisheries (PCAF), the Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Standards (BAFS), and BFAR.
Joining them are the Development Bank of the Philippines and the Land Bank of the Philippines, the DA’s partners in providing credit support to farmers, fisherfolk, and agricultural cooperatives and associations, at the DA Pavilion.
Another highlight of the three-day event would be the Livestock Philippines Recognition 2023, which honors companies, institutions, organizations, and cooperatives for their invaluable contribution to developing the Philippine livestock, poultry, and feed industries.
Also present during the press conference were NLP Director Ruth S. Miclat-Sonaco, BAI Assistant Director Arlene A. Vytiaco, NMIS Director Clarita M. Sangcal, NDA Administrator Gabriel L. Lagamayo, BAFS Director Karen Kristine A. Roscom, DA Technical Assistant and PCAF National Sectoral Committee on Poultry and Livestock Focal Person Norberto A. Nival, and PCC Animal Genetic Resources Head and Animal Breeding and Genomics Section Supervisor Ester B. Flores. (Krystelle Ymari A. Vergara, DA-AFID)