First Farm in the Philippines Earns International Animal Welfare Certification
The city of Cebu in the Philippines has just witnessed a historic milestone for the country’s agricultural sector: Ilaya Cage-Free Egg Supply has officially received the Certified Humane® seal, becoming the first farm in the Philippines to earn an international animal welfare certification.
The award ceremony was attended by government officials and strategic partners, including Governor Pamela “Pam” Baricuatro, who made a point of being present, and Joey Bacalla, the farm’s owner. Also in attendance was J. Signey, a representative from Global Food Partners, the organization that provided technical and strategic support during the certification preparation process.
The Certified Humane® seal is granted to producers who meet strict international animal welfare standards. In the case of Ilaya Cage-Free Egg Supply, this means raising hens cage-free, with adequate space to express natural behaviors, providing a 100% vegetarian diet with no preventative antibiotics or growth promoters, and ensuring low-stress handling with exemplary sanitary conditions.
These requirements are verified through independent audits based on scientific evidence, reinforcing the credibility and trustworthiness of the certification.
By meeting globally recognized standards, the farm positions itself competitively to serve demanding markets and consumers who are increasingly attentive to the origin and production methods of their food.
For the province of Cebu, this is also a concrete example that it is possible to combine economic success, sustainability, and respect for animal welfare. As Governor Pam Baricuatro highlighted, this achievement paves the way for other farms to adopt more responsible practices and benefit from the advantages of ethical production.
The certification process was the result of collaborative work between the farm team, animal welfare specialists, and Global Food Partners, which assisted in adapting facilities, training staff, and implementing the good practices required by the seal.
This joint effort shows that with technical guidance and commitment, it is possible to implement international standards even in local production contexts.
Ilaya Cage-Free Egg Supply’s achievement reinforces the expansion of Certified Humane® in Asia and the growing interest of producers in the region to adopt more humane and sustainable practices.
From now on, Filipino and international consumers will be able to find eggs bearing the Certified Humane® seal, with the assurance that they were produced with respect for animals, the environment, and the consumer.
Published on August 20, 2025
