MANILA – The Department of Budget and Management has approved the release of around PHP69 million to fund the commercialization of protein-enriched copra meal (PECM) in order to cushion the impact of soaring feed raw materials which, in turn, would help consumers.
According to a statement on Friday, Budget Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman said the agency approved the release of PHP69.699 million to support the Protein-Enriched Copra Meal (PECM) Commercialization Project under the National Livestock Program of the Department of Agriculture (DA) on Nov. 17.
The project aims to commercialize the use of PECM as a locally available feed ingredient that can substitute imported soybean for the benefit of Filipino swine and poultry raisers.
“In line with President R. Marcos Jr.’s instruction to put prime importance to agriculture, we will do our best to provide support and implement vital measures to boost the country’s agricultural output. The release of the fund will surely help our kababayans (countrymen), especially those who rely on livestock farming as their livelihood,” Pangandaman said.
She said supporting the program translates to helping the consumers, considering that the increasing feed raw material prices has been contributing to the increase in pork and chicken prices.
“Ito naman po ang hangarin ng Marcos administration – ang tulungan ang agriculture sector sa kanilang produksyon para ma-maintain ang presyo ng mga agricultural products at affordable levels (This is the goal of the Marcos administration - to help the agriculture sector with their production to maintain the prices of agricultural products at affordable levels),” Pangandaman said. (PNA)
