President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. yesterday said the government would soon procure avian flu vaccines which would help end, if not minimize, the culling of fowls and address threats to the poultry industry.
The President made the announcement during the inauguration of the “World-Class Controlled-Climate Magnolia Poultry Farm” in Hagonoy, Davao del Sur, which is expected to produce up to 80 million chickens or around 200 million kilos annually and address the demand for poultry products in Mindanao.
Marcos said the government will continue to mitigate the adverse effects of diseases in the poultry industry such as the avian flu even as the government pursues measures, together with the private sector, that would promote and revitalize the industry.
The President, who is the concurrent agriculture secretary, last month met with leading Indonesian animal health firm PT Vaksindo Satwa Nusantara which intends to invest $2 million for veterinary vaccine development in the Philippines.
Vaksindo, together with its local partner, Univet Nutrition and Animal Healthcare Company Inc. Philippines, has committed to provide the Philippines with avian influenza vaccine.
The President visited the poultry farm of San Miguel Foods Inc. (SMFI) to highlight and convince people that the future of the agricultural sector lies in its modernization.
The P3.34-billion Magnolia Poultry Farm situated in a 921.91-hectare property in Hagonoy aims to house 28 world-class climate-controlled farmhouses that will produce 80 million birds annually.
The facility targets to produce dressed whole chickens, processed chickens (marinated and deboned) and other chicken parts (liver, intestines, etc.). It has an estimated total annual capacity of 66.81 million kilograms.
The farm features environmental controls, biosecurity measures, modernized feeding and watering systems, efficient waste management, and a modern farm layout and house design, among others, which would ensure optimal conditions for poultry rearing, resulting in high-quality and safe products.
It also implements an antimicrobial policy, aiming for a 100 percent antibiotic-free operation, except when necessary for disease treatments. SMFI has implemented the policy in Isabela province and parts of Bicol region and aims to eliminate the use of antibiotics nationwide.
The SMFI farms also prioritize local sourcing, utilizing raw materials from nearby producers and businesses for feed production and value-added processes of its popular Magnolia Chicken “Timplados.”
Each farm is also expected to generate approximately 1,000 job opportunities, both directly and indirectly, with each facility prioritizing the employment of individuals from the surrounding communities.
The President welcomed the increased poultry supply especially with the nearing holidays and peak season.
Marcos said an increase in prices of commodities is expected due to the demand surge but with modern farms such as SMFI’s, consumers will no longer have to worry about poultry products supply and disparity in prices.
He welcomed SMFI’s plans to put up similar modern poultry farms in 11 other areas around the country, adding that with the increase and safe poultry production, the needs of the people would be satisfied.
Marcos said this poultry production would not affect the small fowl producers because the finished product would serve different markets.
Ramon Ang, San Miguel president and chief executive officer, said the Magnolia production would be used for its ready-to-eat products and would not be supplied to wet markets.
Ang said he built the modern chicken farm in response to the call of the President for him and the private sector to help the government ensure food security in the country.
