Livestock statistics to predict prices in CAR
The team for the Regional Livestock and Poultry Information and Early Warning System (RLPI‐EWS) Project assembled for a progress meeting. The meeting took place at the Department of Agriculture (DA) – CAR Conference Hall last March 17, 2017. Participants included were representatives from the office of the Philippine Statistic Authority (PSA), central, regional, and provincial; Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO); City Veterinary Office (CVO) of Baguio and Tabuk; National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS); and DA‐CAR Livestock Program.
The RLPI‐EWS is a collaborative project of the DA, PSA, Philippine Statistical Research and Training Institute (PSRTI), NMIS, Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI), and Local Government Units (LGU's). The private agribusiness sector and academe or research institutions are also part of the said project.
Born in 2006 due to the fluctuating prices of pork and broilers in the mid 90s, the purpose of the RLPI‐EWS is to foresee the trend in production, volume, and prices of livestock, especially swine and poultry. Data gathered can predict prices that are likely to happen under normal conditions, meaning absence of calamities or diseases. The statistic outputs are used for policy information.
In 2014, CAR commenced the project as part of the 5th and last batch. The initiated workplan was comprised of a series of trainings and workshops in preparation for the creation and analysis of the reports. At present, the project is in the process of institutionalization that will be under the Livestock Program.
The project in general was geared towards developing an appropriate methodology for an efficient early warning system in terms of demand and supply of broiler meat and pork. Initially, it aims to develop and/or enhance the supply and demand forecasting model for broiler and pork, its databases, and data system.
At present, it is designed to further improve the methodologies developed and enhanced in the previous years, for a responsive early warning system including other livestock and poultry commodities.
Currently there are two issues of the Regional Situation Report of CAR. The first edition, for CY 2011‐2013, covered poultry and swine. While the second, for CY 2014‐2016, encompassed livestock and poultry due to the inclusion of more commodities.
During the meeting, participants gave their inputs and recommendations for the revision of the second issue. The target release will be on June, this year.
Updates on the Administrative Order (AO) No. 05 Series of 2016, an amendment on the AO No. 27 which is the ‘Guidelines on the Collection of Data on Animal Slaughter’, and the Memorandum Order No. 17 series of 2016, regarding the incentives of Meat Inspectors (MI's) were also discussed.
Aldrin Bahit, Jr., Statistical Operations and Coordination Division Chief of PSA‐CAR, stated the importance of statistics. “Our role is to help every Filipinos make evidence‐based decision making”, he says.
The project aims to help livestock producers and protect consumers. The information gathered from the project will serve as input to formulation of policies and other decisions for the promotion of a globally competitive agribusiness.
