A vast majority of Filipino consumers—83%—want food companies to source eggs from cage-free environments, and 95% believe hens should never be kept in cages. These findings come from Pinas Initiative for Accountability (PIA), which advocates for stronger animal welfare standards in the Philippines.
Amid this strong public support, PIA is pushing multinational corporations to honor their commitments to cage-free sourcing in the Philippines.
“Filipino consumers are being left behind at a time when they deserve transparency,” said Nancy Samonte, PIA Program Manager. It’s not enough to make promises abroad and hide behind silence locally. We urge local authorities to take action to protect our consumers.”
Legal gaps and lack of transparency
Even with growing demand and locally produced cage-free eggs, companies are not legally required to disclose their progress toward animal welfare commitments.
To address this, PIA will release a 2025 Cage-Free Tracker this October. This report will highlight which Philippine-based companies are honoring their commitments, and which are not.
Cage-free systems are globally recognized as more humane. They allow hens to perch, nest, and dust bathe—natural behaviors that are impossible in cramped battery cages.
Mixed commitments: Global promises, local silence
While some Filipino companies have made public pledges, many multinational brands operating in the Philippines have yet to share clear transition plans or progress updates.
Jollibee, for instance, commits to go 100% cage-free in the US by 2025 and globally by 2035.
“Our consumers already buy into global brands that market themselves as ethical and sustainable,” Ms Samonte said. “If those same brands are charging premium prices locally while cutting corners on animal welfare they follow elsewhere, then we are being lied to.”
Pushing for accountability
PIA is engaging with government agencies to include cage-free efforts in national ESG (environmental, social, and governance) and food sustainability frameworks. It is also in direct talks with major brands, pushing them to publish local transition plans that reflect their global pledges.
As 2025 winds down, PIA warns that visible progress is still lacking.
“The goal is simple: Empower consumers and pressure companies to stop treating ethical sourcing as optional in the Philippine market,” stressed Ms Samonte. “We want Filipinos to see which companies are true to their word, and which ones are not.”