Bill seeks to boost local corn industry

A BILL filed at the Senate can enhance the competitiveness and facilitate the expansion of the local corn industry.

Sen. Cynthia Villar, who authored Senate Bill (SB) 2625, said that it is imperative for the government to also bolster the corn industry since it plays a pivotal role in sustaining the livestock and poultry industries.

Livestock feed depends on inputs like corn, wheat and soya, Villar said in her sponsorship of the bill under Committee Report 246, or “An Act to Develop the Philippine Corn Industry.”

“About 40 percent to 60 percent of animal feed consists of yellow corn,” she added.

The Philippines has a deficit of 3 to 5 million metric tons of corn annually.

In 2023, the combined corn-livestock-poultry sector contributed 27.17 percent of gross value added in agriculture.

It provided livelihood opportunities to more than 1.28 million corn farmers, 2.8 million livestock and poultry farmers, and thousands of other industry players.

“Yet despite its significance, the yellow corn industry faces its share of challenges that require greater government attention,” Villar said.

Villar said SB 2625 provides for the creation of the Corn Competitiveness Enhancement Fund, in addition to the annual regular budget.

For 10 years, the Corn Fund shall consist of an annual P3 billion budget, which will come from tariff collection on imported corn, feed wheat, feeds, and other products and ingredients for feeds.

“We propose that 80 percent of the Corn Fund shall be utilized for yellow corn, and 20 percent of the fund to white corn development and other Indigenous corn varieties,” she said.

Villar said the Philippines is still lagging in yellow corn production, ranking eighth among its neighbors in Asia. PNA