MANILA — Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. has ordered a thorough review of a goat breeding program launched under the Duterte administration after state auditors flagged significant livestock losses due to inadequate care.

The review will focus on the technical viability and resource requirements of the “upgrading of small ruminants” project at the Pangasinan Research and Experiment Center in Sual, Pangasinan, Secretary Tiu Laurel said.

The Commission on Audit (COA), in its 2024 report, noted that 52 of the 101 Anglo Nubian and Saanen goats purchased for the program had died, citing poor feeding and nutrition as the main cause. The goats were intended to serve as breeder stock for high-quality ruminants.

COA also acknowledged that the Department of Agriculture (DA) had begun addressing funding gaps. Allocations for feed were included in the 2025 budget, while additional funds for animal care have been incorporated into the DA’s 2026 budget proposal.

However, records indicate that under the previous administration, the program lacked sufficient long-term funding to sustain goat production beyond basic feed and veterinary needs. Secretary Tiu Laurel said the review will determine whether the program should be revived, scaled down, or discontinued.

In the meantime, remaining goats will be distributed to farmers in typhoon-hit Catanduanes, where livestock losses have been severe. The 140-hectare Pangasinan facility may be temporarily repurposed for high-value crops and serve as an innovation hub, supporting public-private-community initiatives aimed at boosting rural agro-industrial development.

The review highlights the challenge of balancing ambitious agricultural programs with sustainable funding, ensuring that future initiatives are supported by both vision and resources.