AN ACT ENHANCING ANIMAL INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT AND COMPETITIVENESS, STRENGTHENING THE BUREAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY, AND CREATING FOR THE PURPOSE THE ANIMAL COMPETITIVENESS ENHANCEMENT FUND

(6) Raising 250 birds and below (chicken: native/improved/free range); (7) Raising 250 layers and below (layer and duck); (8) Raising 2,500 birds and below (quail); (v) Semi-commercial farm refers to: (1) Tending six (6) to 50 cow or water buffalo level (large ruminants: dairy and beef); (2) Tending 36 to 100 does (small ruminants: dairy and meat); (3) Tending 11 to 50 sow level or 101 to 500 heads (swine, including native pig); (4) Raising 101 to 1,000 heads (rabbits); (5) Raising 501 to 10,000 birds (broiler); (6) Raising 251 to 5,000 birds (chicken: native/improved/free range); (7) Raising 251 to 5,000 layers (layer and duck); (8) Raising 2,501 to 10,000 birds (quail); (w) Commercial farm refers to: (1) Tending 51 cow or water buffalo level and above (large ruminants: dairy and beef); (2) Tending more than 100 heads of does (small ruminants: dairy and meat); (3) Tending 51 sow level and above or 501 heads and above (swine, including native pig); (4) Raising 1,001 heads and above (rabbit); (5) Raising 10,001 birds and above (broiler); (6) Raising 5,001 birds and above (chicken: native/improved/free range); (7) Raising 5,001 layers and above (layer and duck); (8) Raising 10,001 birds and above (quail); (x) Transboundary animal disease refers to an epidemic disease which is highly contagious or transmissible and has the potential for very rapid spread, irrespective of national borders, causing serious socio-economic and possible public health consequences; (y) Value chain refers to the set of actors, activities, and services that bring a basic agricultural product from production in the field to final consumption, where value is added to the product at each stage; (z) Veterinary drugs, products, and biologics refer to substances or devices, including biological products, whether used for therapeutic, prophylactic, or diagnostic purposes or for modification of physiological functions or behaviors, applied or administered to livestock and poultry, companion, aquatic, laboratory, and exotic animals; (aa) Veterinary drug and product establishment refers to any person, partnership, corporation, or organization involved in the manufacture, import, export, repacking, labeling, advertising, and/or distribution of veterinary drugs and products; and (bb) Zoonotic disease refers to an infectious disease that has been transmitted from animals to humans; TITLE II STRENGTHENING THE BUREAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY, HARMONIZING ANIMAL INDUSTRY REGULATORY AGENCIES, AND ENHANCING THEIR PROGRAMS SEC. 4. Reorganizing and Strengthening the Bureau of Animal Industry. - The BAI is hereby expanded and reclassified into a line agency attached to the Department of Agriculture (DA), with regional and provincial offices. The BAI shall have an office for developmental functions, within which the NLP and its functions shall be absorbed. The NMIS is hereby reorganized and strengthened to be the core regulatory office of the BAI. The BAI developmental office shall be called the Animal Development and Welfare Office (ADWO) and the BAI regulatory office shall be called the Animal Regulation and Enforcement Office (AREO). The BAI shall be headed by an Administrator with the rank of an Undersecretary. The BAI shall also create, oversee, and implement the National Animal Industry Roadmap, in consultation with relevant stakeholders. The PCC and the NDA shall be attached to and be under the direct supervision of the BAI. SEC. 5. Authority of the President of the Philippines to Rationalize the Operation of the Livestock Agencies. - The President shall have the authority to restructure and complete the staffing pattern of the BAI in accordance with Section 4 of this Act and government policies and guidelines on rightsizing and rationalization efforts. Within one hundred twenty (120) days from the effectivity of this Act, the DA, with the assistance of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), shall submit the recommendations on the organizational structure and staffing pattern of the BAI for the President's approval: Provided, That safety nets shall be provided to employees whose agencies may be affected by the rationalization and funds and resources shall be set aside therefor: Provided, further, That organizational development programs to strengthen the institutional capacity of the agencies and improve the productivity of employees shall be implemented: Provided, finally, That the approved organizational structure and staffing pattern may be reviewed and evaluated five (5) years after the effectivity of this Act. SEC. 6. Non-interruption of Government Service and Transitory Provisions. - The delivery of government functions and services shall not be delayed or disrupted during the reorganization of livestock agencies. Agencies and personnel shall continue to perform their respective functions, duties, and responsibilities in a holdover capacity until the transition has been completed. SEC. 7. Philippine Carabao Center. - The PCC shall continue to perform its original mandates under Republic Act No. 7307 or the "Philippine Carabao Act of 1992", and implement its carabao milk production program. The PCC shall also conduct research and development for other animals. It may also be referred to as the PCC-National Institute for Animal Sciences. In addition to its existing mandates, the PCC shall develop and implement strategies for other animals as specified under Section 6 of Republic Act No. 7307. The PCC may also undertake animal vaccine and biologics research and development. The existing PCC regional centers located at the: University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) in Laguna; Central Luzon State University (CLSU) in Nueva Ecija; Cagayan State University (CSU) in Cagayan; Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) in Ilocos Norte; Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University (DMMMSU) in La Union; Central Bicol State University of Agriculture (CBSUA) in Camarines Sur; La Carlota Stock Farm (LCSF) in Negros Occidental; Ubat Stock Farm (USF) in Bohol; Visayas State University (VSU) in Leyte; West Visayas State University (WVSU) in Iloilo; Caraga State University (CARSU) in Butuan City; Central Mindanao University (CMU) in Bukidnon; University of Southern Mindanao (USM) in North Cotabato; and Mindanao Livestock Production Center (MLPC) in Zamboanga del Norte shall be converted to research and development stations of the PCC. The existing regional centers may include research and development on other animals. The PCC may also establish additional research and development center in other areas. SEC. 8. National Dairy Authority. -The NDA shall be the central policy and developmental body for the Philippine dairy industry. Its regulatory functions, including its power to issue and impose safety regulations on the dairy industry, shall be transferred to the BAI regulatory office.