Senator Cynthia A. Villar has sought congressional approval of her bill seeking to develop the corn industry, noting its importance in poultry, especially the egg-laying type layers.

Villar said Senate Bill 120, or An Act to Develop and Promote the Yellow Corn Industry, to Enhance Availability of Affordable and Quality Feeds, and to Provide for a Corn Competitiveness Enhancement Fund, would also increase production of corn and affordable feeds for the livestock and poultry sector.

"This can be achieved by institutionalizing mechanization, hybrid seeds propagation and distribution, credit, extension and training, provision of insurance, marketing, organization of farmers, among others," she said.

Villar is the chairperson of the Senate committee on Agriculture and Food.

"Yellow corn is one of the country's main agricultural crops which Is mainly used for livestock and poultry feeds," she explained.

"It is a rain-fed crop, requires simple land preparation, and can be grown in upland, even in sloping areas. It is usually harvestable after 55 - 75 days. It is mainly used for livestock and poultry feeds," she added.

According to the senator, corn is preferred for feeds because of high carotene content. Yellow corn accounts for about 50% of the component of feeds.

While the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) shows our yellow corn production has been in upward trend since 2017, Villar said this is not sufficient to cover the needs of the livestock and poultry sector.

She noted that the production could not satisfy the demand of the country which is 8.8 million tons.

To cope with the demand, she said the country continues to import corn, feeds and other feeds components, which greatly affects the income and welfare of our corn farmers.

Aside from importation, also affecting the corn farmers are high cost of inputs, weather patterns, and pests and diseases.

The National Corn Program, a banner program of the Department of Agriculture, is the government's response to these major challenges facing the corn industry.

Still, the senator lamented the development of com industry has been left behind despite being a major input to the livestock and poultry industry.

"Our corn farmers are still dealing with these issues even if there has been sufficient budget given to the program through the years," she said.

Because of this, Villar renewed her call to develop and strengthen the corn industry as it will result to better livestock, poultry and dairy industries.