Calabarzon rollout aims to help farmers offset losses while stabilizing local egg market conditions
The government is set to launch a new poultry livelihood initiative in the Calabarzon region aimed at increasing egg production and supporting farming communities through sustainable enterprise development.
The Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI), in partnership with the Department of Agriculture (DA) regional office in Calabarzon, local government units, and other stakeholders, has signed a memorandum of agreement to implement the Livelihood Opportunities and Viable Enterprise (LOVE) for Agricultural Farming Communities: Chicken Layer Project.
Under the program, selected beneficiaries across the provinces of Calabarzon will receive starter poultry packages consisting of layer chickens, cages, feeders, nipple drinking systems, feeds, vitamins, medications, and disinfectants. Each province will have 11 identified beneficiaries who will participate in the rollout.
BAI Director Christian Daquigan said the initiative is designed to strengthen the local poultry sector while improving the welfare of farming households. He emphasized that boosting productivity at the community level will also help ensure more stable access to affordable and nutritious eggs for Filipino consumers.
The program will be implemented jointly by the DA regional office, BAI, LGUs, the National Livestock Program, and the Agricultural Training Institute, with support from participating communities.
Officials noted that the initiative is expected to generate additional income opportunities in rural areas, encourage agri-entrepreneurship, and contribute to a more consistent supply of eggs in the market.
The project builds on Department of Agriculture guidelines issued in 2025 for the establishment of LOVE initiatives in farming communities, highlighting eggs as a key and affordable source of protein that can support both nutrition and livelihood needs.
The rollout comes as the local egg industry faces supply challenges, including an oversupply of small-sized eggs that has pressured farmgate prices, alongside rising production costs driven by global fuel price increases and other external factors. Industry stakeholders also pointed to seasonal demand fluctuations and reduced consumption during school breaks as contributing factors to the current market imbalance.
Overall, the program is positioned as both a short-term livelihood intervention and a longer-term effort to strengthen food security and stabilize the domestic egg supply chain in the region.
