Senator Kiko Pangilinan urged the Department of Agriculture (DA) to prioritize the establishment of first-border inspection facilities, calling it a critical investment for the protection of the country’s agricultural sector against billions of pesos worth of losses caused by the entry of pests and diseases.
During the Senate Committee on Finance’s hearing on the DA’s proposed 2026 budget, Pangilinan emphasized that establishing Cold Examination Facilities in Agriculture (CEFA) sites is a long-overdue measure to strengthen the country’s agricultural biosecurity and protect local producers.
The veteran legislator pointed to past agricultural crises–such as the African Swine Fever (ASF) outbreak and the cocolisap infestation–that caused massive losses in the hog and coconut industries, respectively.
“ASF was precisely because we didn’t have that first border inspection, and that cost us at least for one year P70 billion.”
“ASF was precisely because we didn’t have that first border inspection, and that cost us at least for one year P70 billion, maybe more. Even ‘yung cocolisap infestation, which cost us 4, 5, or 6 billion worth, was invasive pests,” the seasoned lawmaker explained.
The ASF outbreak during the Covid-19 pandemic forced the government to temporarily modify the rates of import duty for fresh, chilled or frozen meat of swine to stabilize supply and prices as the industry suffered from heavy losses.
“Again, kung may first border inspection ang Bureau of Plant, Bureau of Animal Industry, this could have been all avoided,” the senator stressed.
While the total cost of the facilities could reach around P1.9 billion for five CEFAs, the Senator stated that the DA can already begin construction on three sites to get the project underway.
“It’s really putting the necessary funding to prevent losses in the hundreds of billions.”
“At least maumpisahan na. It’s really putting the necessary funding to prevent losses in the hundreds of billions. So, hopefully, for this year sana, sa 2026 budget mailagay na, kahit tatlo,” he added.
Pangilinan underscored that building CEFA facilities would allow for the early detection and containment of diseases and pests entering through imported agricultural products.
These facilities–equipped with modern laboratories, quarantine areas, and inspection systems–are designed to examine imported meat, produce, and plant materials before they are distributed nationwide.
