Cebu is preparing to become a major meeting point for the Philippine livestock, poultry and aquaculture industries as the first regional edition of Livestock Philippines and Aquaculture Philippines opens on November 11, bringing international technologies, business opportunities and industry experts closer to farmers across the Visayas.
The three-day exhibition will run until November 13, 2026, at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino. Organizers expect more than 4,000 visitors and over 100 exhibiting brands representing approximately seven countries, including Taiwan, Thailand, China, the Netherlands and Singapore.
The event was announced during a November 9 press conference attended by representatives of the Philippine Inno Ventures Agriculture Cooperative (PIVAC), the Regional Agricultural and Fishery Council VII (RAFC VII), the Department of Agriculture Central Visayas (DA-7) and event organizer Informa Markets Philippines.
For the first time, the established industry exhibition is bringing its regional platform to Cebu, giving local farmers, livestock raisers, poultry producers and aquaculture operators greater access to suppliers, technical experts and potential business partners without having to travel to Metro Manila.
But behind the excitement over new technologies and investment opportunities lies a more urgent concern: farmers continue to struggle with expensive production inputs, rising feed costs, animal diseases and limited access to profitable markets. SunStar Publishing Inc.+2
Cebu’s First Regional Livestock and Aquaculture Expo Opens November 11
The event is designed to connect local agricultural producers with companies and organizations offering equipment, products and services across the livestock and fisheries industries.
Exhibitors are expected to showcase innovations involving:
- Agricultural and livestock machinery
- Animal health products and veterinary services
- Poultry and livestock production systems
- Aquaculture technology and equipment
- Animal feeds and feed-management solutions
- Farm biosecurity and disease prevention
- Sustainable agricultural production
Beyond the exhibition booths, the program will feature seminars, technical presentations, training activities and open forums where farmers can raise concerns directly with industry specialists.
The organizers are positioning the event as more than a commercial trade show. It is also intended to create connections between producers, technology providers, investors and government agencies.
According to Informa Markets Philippines, bringing the exhibition to Cebu is part of an effort to extend access to industry knowledge and innovation beyond Luzon and strengthen agricultural business opportunities in the Visayas. Livestock Philippines 2026+1
Farmers Still Face High Feed Costs, Expensive Supplies and Limited Market Access
Despite the opportunities offered by modern technology, officials acknowledged that many livestock raisers continue to face difficult operating conditions.
Dr. Zeam Voltaire E. Amper, DA-7 regional livestock program coordinator, identified insufficient support for production inputs as one of the sector’s biggest problems.
Feed, veterinary products, equipment and other essential supplies can consume a significant portion of a farmer’s operating budget. When these expenses rise, small-scale raisers may find it difficult to maintain production or expand their businesses.
Another challenge involves market access.
Many small livestock raisers depend on traders to purchase their pigs, cattle, goats and other animals. While traders provide an important link between farms and buyers, individual farmers may have limited bargaining power when negotiating prices.
This can leave producers with fewer opportunities to secure better returns, particularly when they purchase inputs at high prices but sell their animals through intermediaries.
Officials and agricultural stakeholders therefore emphasized the importance of farmer clustering and consolidation.
By organizing into groups or associations, farmers may be able to purchase supplies collectively, coordinate production, negotiate better prices and approach larger buyers as a more organized group.
The strategy could help small producers improve their position in the supply chain rather than negotiating independently with suppliers and traders. SunStar Publishing Inc.+1
African Swine Fever Remains a Serious Threat to Cebu’s Hog Industry
One of the major issues expected to receive attention during the exhibition is African swine fever (ASF), a highly contagious viral disease affecting domestic and wild pigs.
ASF can cause severe illness and high mortality among infected animals, resulting in serious financial losses for hog raisers. Outbreaks can also lead to quarantine measures and restrictions on the movement of live pigs and pork products.
Cebu has experienced several ASF-related incidents in recent months, prompting local and provincial authorities to strengthen surveillance and disease-control measures.
In September, laboratory testing confirmed ASF in pig samples from Ginatilan, leading to tighter monitoring and movement restrictions. Subsequent testing in 12 initially unaffected barangays found no additional infections in the samples collected, providing some relief but not eliminating the need for continued precautions.
WWC ONE MEDIA previously reported on the findings in Ginatilan’s Expanded ASF Tests Find No New Infections — But Cebu’s Hog Industry Is Not Out of Danger Yet.
Cebu City has also dealt with confirmed infections in local communities. Authorities have conducted surveillance, imposed movement controls and investigated possible routes through which the virus may have spread.
Read more: Cebu City Sounds the Alarm After 10 Pigs Test Positive for ASF.
The outbreak concerns are also affecting businesses connected to Cebu’s famous lechon industry. Restrictions on hog shipments from ASF-affected areas have placed pressure on the supply of smaller pigs preferred by some lechon producers.
WWC ONE MEDIA examined the issue in Cebu Lechon Supply Faces Pressure as African Swine Fever Restrictions Cut Off Negros Pig Sources.
These developments explain why biosecurity, animal-health monitoring and responsible livestock transportation are important topics for the Cebu expo.
ASF does not infect humans, but it can devastate pig farms and disrupt the businesses and livelihoods that depend on hog production. WWC One Media+2
Cebu’s Livestock Industry Has a Significant Economic Footprint
The exhibition comes as Central Visayas continues to demonstrate substantial activity in livestock and aquaculture production.
The event’s official regional information page cites Philippine Statistics Authority figures showing that Central Visayas’ livestock and aquaculture sectors recorded combined growth of 5.2% in 2024, with production valued at approximately ₱63.15 billion at constant 2018 prices.
The region’s agricultural activity creates opportunities for suppliers of animal feeds, veterinary products, farm equipment, production technology and aquaculture systems.
Cebu’s own livestock inventory also illustrates the importance of the sector.
According to the PSA Central Visayas report for the second quarter of 2026, Cebu Province recorded approximately:
- 451,500 hogs, up 46.2% from 308,800 in the same period of 2025.
- 283,900 goats, down 1.6% year on year.
- 215,310 cattle, up 3.9%.
- 69,420 carabaos, down 1.8%.
The province also recorded approximately 13.66 million chickens, an increase of 13.7% compared with the same period in 2025.
Smallhold farms accounted for 71.4% of Cebu’s swine inventory and 97.4% of its cattle inventory, underscoring the importance of backyard and smaller-scale producers to local livestock production.
These figures show why access to affordable inputs, veterinary assistance and reliable markets matters to thousands of producers. Livestock Philippines 2026+1
Aquaculture Gains Importance as Philippine Fisheries Face Production Challenges
The aquaculture component of the exhibition is particularly relevant as the Philippines continues to balance the supply of fish from commercial fishing, municipal fishing and fish farms.
The latest PSA Fisheries Situation Report, covering July to September 2026, showed that total Philippine fisheries production reached 886,560 metric tons, down 1.8% from 902,870 metric tons in the same quarter of 2025.
However, aquaculture moved in the opposite direction.
Production from aquaculture farms increased by 9.5% to 498,110 metric tons, accounting for 56.2% of total fisheries production during the quarter.
By comparison, commercial fisheries production fell 20.6%, while marine municipal fisheries declined 5.4%.
The figures highlight the growing importance of aquaculture to the country’s overall fish supply. They also explain why technology involving fish farming, feeds, water quality, disease management and production efficiency is attracting attention.
For farmers and aquaculture operators, improved production systems could help strengthen output and reduce some of the risks associated with relying exclusively on traditional fishing activities.
However, expansion must be accompanied by responsible farm management, environmental safeguards and appropriate monitoring to ensure that higher production does not create additional ecological problems. Philippine Statistics Authority
Seminars Will Cover Animal Health, Biosecurity, Silage and Beekeeping
Aside from the product exhibits, the Cebu event will offer learning opportunities for farmers and livestock raisers.
Topics expected to be covered include animal health, silage making, biosecurity and beekeeping.
Silage production is particularly relevant for livestock raisers because properly preserved forage can provide an alternative feed source when fresh grass and other feed materials become less available.
For farmers, learning how to prepare and store animal feed can help improve feed management and reduce dependence on purchased supplies, although the actual savings will depend on local production costs and available materials.
Biosecurity training is also important because preventing the entry and spread of animal diseases can be less costly than dealing with an established outbreak.
Farmers can benefit from practical guidance on controlling farm access, disinfecting equipment, monitoring animal health and coordinating with veterinary authorities.
The event will also include a Livestock Consultative Forum where producers can raise concerns involving ASF and other industry challenges.
RAFC VII chairperson Grace J. Cenas said the forum would provide a venue for farmers to communicate their concerns and engage with relevant stakeholders.
For small-scale raisers, these discussions could be as important as the technology displays because many of their challenges involve access to government assistance, reliable suppliers and buyers. SunStar Publishing Inc.+1
Aboitiz Foods’ Cebu Feedmill Plans Reflect Growing Industry Interest
The growing importance of feed production and agricultural supply chains is also reflected in private-sector investments in Cebu.
WWC ONE MEDIA previously reported that Aboitiz Foods was advancing plans for a new Pilmico feedmill in Balamban, Cebu, as part of efforts to strengthen its Philippine food and animal-feed supply network.
The investment is relevant to the concerns raised by livestock stakeholders because feed is one of the major operating expenses for poultry and hog producers.
While a new feedmill does not automatically guarantee lower feed prices for every farmer, additional production capacity and stronger supply networks can contribute to the industry’s long-term development.
The bigger challenge is ensuring that smaller producers can access affordable and reliable supplies, not just that the industry attracts more investment. WWC One Media+1
Free Admission, With Fees for Some Training Activities
Organizers have announced that admission to the exhibition is free.
However, some seminars and training activities may require separate registration fees. Visitors are encouraged to check the official event information before attending specific sessions.
The exhibition will run from November 11 to 13 at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino.
Farmers, livestock and poultry raisers, aquaculture operators, investors, suppliers and other industry stakeholders are among those being encouraged to participate.
More information is available through the official event website: Livestock Philippines and Aquaculture Philippines 2026.
Can the Cebu Expo Deliver Real Benefits for Small Farmers?
The first regional edition of Livestock Philippines and Aquaculture Philippines offers Cebu an opportunity to connect local producers with international suppliers, modern technology and potential business partners.
But the real measure of success will not simply be the number of exhibitors, visitors or products displayed.
Farmers need practical solutions to the problems affecting their daily operations: expensive feeds, limited access to veterinary services, animal diseases, weak bargaining power and difficulty reaching profitable markets.
For small-scale producers, even the most advanced equipment may remain out of reach without financing, training and reliable government support.
The proposed farmer-clustering approach could help address some of these challenges by allowing producers to work together and negotiate from a stronger position.
At the same time, improved biosecurity and animal-health systems are essential to protecting Cebu’s hog industry from further ASF disruptions.
With more than 4,000 visitors and over 100 exhibiting brands expected, the November 11–13 exhibition could become an important platform for agricultural cooperation in the Visayas.
The bigger question is whether the connections made in Cebu will translate into lower production costs, stronger markets and more sustainable livelihoods for the farmers who keep the country’s livestock and aquaculture industries running.
