The Livestock Development Council (LDC) was created by virtue of Presidential Decree (PD) 914 signed by then President Ferdinand E. Marcos on March 1976. LDC's mandate under the law is to serve as the policy making body for the livestock and poultry sector of the Department of Agriculture.
Minister Arturo R. Tanco, Jr. served as the first Council Chairman being the head of the Ministry of Agriculture. Original structure of the Council include 18 members from the government and 10 from the private sector. Membership of the Council expanded and to date included the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Resources, Research and Development for the government sector and representatives from the Small Farmers' Association for Swine, Poultry, Cattle and the Small Ruminants under the private sector.
An Executive Staff headed by an Executive Director was also created to manage the operation of the Council. Dr. Dalmacio S. Salting, a veterinarian, was the first Executive Director of LDC (1976-1980). As a newly created Council, Director Salting focussed his activities in fostering and establishing a working relationship between and among the DA's livestock agencies, the regional field units, and the private sector through the accredited livestock and poultry associations.
With the resignation of Dr. Salting after four fruitful years of service, Dr. Ramon A. Ancheta, also a veterinarian took over the directorship from 1980 to 1986. It was during his term when the National Animal Resources Development Program (NARDP) of the Department of Agriculture was established.
As the 1986 EDSA Revolution gave way to a new leadership, installed President Corazon C. Aquino reaffirmed further the Councils' role in the development of the livestock and poultry industries by signing Executive Order (E.O.) 116 on January 30, 1987 - mandating the LDC to formulate and establish comprehensive policy guidelines; prepare plans and programs; and to monitor and evaluate livestock development projects.
The E.O. 116 also known as the "Reorganization Act" in effect restructured the Ministry of Agriculture into Ministry of Agriculture and Food headed by then Minister Ramon V. Mitra, Jr. During that time, Dr. Romeo N. Alcasid assumed the directorship of LDC from 1986 to 1987. Through his guidance, LDC was able to intensify pasture development in the regions with the aim of enhancing livestock production.
A year after, Director Lino E. Nazareno took over and managed LDC from 1987 to 1989 a year after. Dr. Manuel D. Rocha, at that time the Executive Director of the National Meat Inspection Commission, succeeded Director Nazareno on concurrent capacity from 1989 to 1991. This was during the leadership of Secretary Senen C. Bacani.
The appointment of Secretary Roberto S. Sebastian to the Department of Agriculture from 1991 to 1994 witnessed three distinguished personalities of the LDC. Dr. Romeo N. Alcasid, Executive Director from 1986 to 1987, was designated anew as Officer-In-Charge from 1991 to 1992. Significant during his term was the leveling of the agriculture sector towards trade globalization and the commencement of GATT-WTO ratification.
Assistant Secretary Lino E. Nazareno also came back and headed LDC on concurrent capacity from 1992 to 1993. He was instrumental to the genetic improvement and upgrading of stocks initiated by the Department by requiring cattle feeder importers to institute 10% breeder bull from the total volume of importation. When Director Nazareno took full time as Assistant Secretary for Livestock in 1993, Director Pedro O. Ocampo took over.
Director Ocampo supervised the agency from 1993 to 1994. It was under Director Ocampo when the "Medium Term Livestock Development Program" (MTLDP) was conceptualized. LDC was tasked as the coordinating body of all the DA livestock bureaus and agencies including regional field units in the implementation of the said program.
When Director Ocampo assumed his post as President of the Philippine Dairy Corporation (now National Dairy Authority) on April 1994, Dr. Ricardo F. Marero from the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI), became the Executive Director. During his term the MTLDP became the Gintong Ani Livestock Program (GALP) with LDC as program secretariat and the coordinating agency. LDC's tasks were to integrate and consolidate the plans, budgets and accomplishments of GALP. Dr. Salvador H. Escudero III, chaired the Council for four years from 1994 to 1998 as Secretary of the Department.
Remarkable under Director Marero's leadership was the establishment of the Local Area Network, and the institutionalization of the Livestock Bulletin - the official newsletter of DA livestock agencies and RFUs. It was was also in his term when the Livestock Development Council Employees' Association (LDCEA) was organized.
Following the election of President Joseph E. Estrada, Dr. William D. Dar was designated Acting Secretary of the Department of Agriculture in June 1998. He was tasked to put into operation the Agriculture & Fisheries Modernization Act (AFMA) of 1997 through the implementation of the Agrikulturang Makamasa Livestock Program (AMLP), the flagship program of the government in the sector. Like the previous DA's livestock banner program, LDC acted as the program secretariat including the management of program funds.
About the same year, Dr. Patricio S. Faylon was appointed LDC Executive Director. An expert in R & D, Dr. Faylon was originally from the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCARRD), where he worked for 13 years as Director of the Livestock Research Division.
His management gave direction in the development of framework and operational guidelines in the implementation of the AMLP. It was also during his term that LDC acted as secretariat to the Minimum Access Volume (MAV). Other remarkable achievements during his term was the expansion of LAN and the application of upgraded information technology.
After a year of service at LDC, Dr. Faylon returned to PCARRD to become its Executive Director. Mr. Sikatuna Z. Fonacier took charged from October 4, 1999 to August 6, 2000. Under his supervision, he continue executing what Dr. Faylon had started. His term was able to create a more conducive working environment at LDC. About the same time, Secretary Edgardo Angara, now senator, took the leadership of the department.
Mr. Nicomedes P. Eleazar headed the LDC on his capacity as Deputy Executive Director after Director Fonacier resigned. With his experience in the Bureau of Agricultural Research {BAR) as Division Chief, he fostered professional working atmosphere at LDC.
The ascendancy of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo into power witnessed another reorganization of the executive branch. For the Department of Agiculture, former Sectoral Representative Leonardo Q. Montemayor was appointed Secretary.
Under the leadership of Secretary Montemayor, Mr. Pedro O. Ocampo was appointed LDC Executive Director for the second time effective 2001. Prior to his asumption, Director Ocampo was the Program Director of AMLP since 1999. Now the Ginintuang Masaganang Ani Livestock Program (GMALP), Director Ocampo continuously manage the operation of the program with LDC as program secretariat.
Through the leadership of Director Ocampo, livestock and poultry industry initiatives were refocussed to address the issues on globalization. These initiatives include the conduct of policy studies to assess the competitiveness of livestock and poultry products, and the development of appropriate programs to enhance productivity. It also spearhead the organization of livestock agencies' information group under the DA for for an effective information system.
It was also in his administration when the LDC website was launched as portal to updated national livestock and poultry industry situations, livestock and poultry brochures, relevant livestock data series, as well as the latest events in the industry. The website serves as the electronic medium in catering the information needs of the stakeholders and the public in general.
LDC looks forward for a globally competitive livestock and poultry products in the world market by its unswerving commitment and partnership among stakeholders in providing viable policy environment for the development of the livestock and poultry indusries.
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