Month: November 2016

Twin benefits foreseen in milk supplementation program for day-care pupils in Aliaga town

Posted on | by Mervalyn O. Tomas

Twin benefits, for day-care pupils and dairy carabao farmers, are foreseen in the milk feeding program launched recently in Aliaga, Nueva Ecija  under the collaboration of three government units.

The program, which had its soft launching last November 28, will provide a flow of processed milk to a total of 1,121 pupils, aged three to five years, for four months.  

An official involved in the program said it will also provide the added benefit of supporting and promoting the livelihood of carabao farmers as the commodity would be sourced out from the milk yields collected by the dairy farmers from their dairy carabaos.

The undertaking is  a joint effort of the Philippine Carabao Center (PCC) in partnership with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the local government unit of Aliaga town.

“This program aims to address the nutritional requirements of day care pupils and improve their nutritional intake as they grow up,” Dr. Daniel Aquino, Center Director of PCC at Central Luzon State University (PCC at CLSU), said during the launching of the program.

The DSWD committed to allot a fund of Php 1,479,720 while PCC will deliver the milk products to the cooperating Day Care Centers.

Ma. Theresa Sawit, PCC Senior Science Research Specialist, disclosed that they have  capacitated the Nueva Ecija Federation of Dairy Carabao Cooperatives (NEFEDCO) to provide the processed milk.. It will deliver the supply needed by the children for 120 days.

Armando Silva, provincial coordinator of the sustainable livelihood project of the DSWD in Region III, on the other hand, said that their department is committed to provide continuing assistance for the dairy farmers for their sustainable livelihood source.

 ‘”Carabaos have very important roles in the lives of our farmers since they serve as the farmer’s capital for their sustainable livelihood,” Silva said.

He expounded that the meat and dairy products, as well as draft powers of the carabaos, are economic opportunities for the farmers tending them.

Futhermore, Sawit further explained that this particular program includes nutrition education for the children. He said where infographics are to be printed out and posted on classroom walls for information dissemination. Teachers will be actively involved in the program as they commit one session per month in their class to discuss the importance of milk in children’s proper nutrition.

Dr. Edgardo Carlos of Aliaga’s Rural Health Unit ensured that the weight and height of the children will be measured in a monthly basis to monitor the improvement in their nutritional status.

The parents of the children, who were visibly elated about the program, expressed their gratitude to PCC, DSWD, and to the Aliaga LGU for extending their help in ensuring the  nutritional welfare of their children.

“We are lucky that our municipality has been chosen to be one of the beneficiaries of this program,” Gia Javaluyas, a mother and the wife of  Erwin Javaluyas who is president of the Aliaga Association of Barangay Captains, said.

Successful dairy carabao farmers, entrepreneurs share good practices in production, business in 2nd National Carabao Conference

Posted on | by Ma. Cecilia C. Irang

Triumphant dairy farmers and entrepreneurs in carabao-based industry imparted their good practices in the 2nd National Carabao Conference held last November 14 and 15 at the national headquarters and gene pool of the Philippine Carabao Center (PCC), Science City of Muñoz in Nueva Ecija.

With the theme, “Nagsipag… Nagnegosyo… Nagtagumpay!”, the conference served as a venue for meaningful interaction among the participants and a source of significant information and ideas, for sharing and disseminating, which is expected to inspire more to participate in the Carabao Development Program (CDP).

According to Wilma Del Rosario, National Impact Zone (NIZ) coordinator of PCC and the overall chair for the second NCC, strategic breakout sessions with different speakers according to their respective practices were arranged to realize the conference theme.

“Sharing their respective stories to the participants is one way of encouraging and motivating them to strive harder in their chosen venture and at the same time encourage others to follow suit,” she said.

For the “nagsipag” (diligent technology adopters), those who shared their stories are farmers who have been persistent in alleviating their way of living thru the income that they earn from the dairy carabaos. They also narrated their good practices in the value chain and how they adopt technologies in their respective activities.

Isagani Cajucom of Lupao, Nueva Ecija discussed the income he earns from silage production; Catalina Visda of Sto. Domingo, Nueva Ecija shared her good practices in production such as care and management of buffaloes; Eugenio Felicano Jr. of San Agustin, Isabela shared the benefits he gets from the bull loan program of PCC; Eliseo Mislang of San Jose City, Nueva Ecija talked about how he gets to save household expenditures such as for gas that they use for cooking because of the technology on biogas digester using carabao manure to produce gas; Imelda Zamora of Asingan, Pangasinan, narrated the profits she gets from the sales of vermicast thru vermicomposting; and Sernan Pelayo of Aliaga, Nueva Ecija imparted his practices as a village-based artificial insemination technician (VBAIT) and the sustainable income he derives from it.

“I am really happy and satisfied with the income I get from being a VBAIT. Aside from being of help to others, I am also able to contribute to the carabao upgrading program of PCC for the sustainable growth of our livestock industry,” Pelayo said.

In the “nagnegosyo” (innovative entrepreneurs), businessmen highlighted and promoted their carabao-based enterprises and their products out of carabao’s milk, meat, and hide.

Leoncio Callo of Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija showed to the participants the annual sales and income of Dairy Box Delicatessen and how they continuously improve their products; Arturo Tabbu of Tuguegarao City, Cagayan shared the history of the Lighthouse Cooperative and how they come up with their products from carabao’s meat and hide such as “Chicha-rabao”, carabeef tapa, longganisa and others; Prof. Dana Vera Cruz of Central Luzon State University described the innovative reason behind the production of the internationally-recognized tilapia ice cream; Jesus Mateo of Sta. Maria, Bulacan shared the humble beginning of their family business in food products and meat dealership; Joel Morales of San Agustin, Isabela gave a testimony on how his crossbred carabaos are called upon to power “karyada” every cropping season and the income he gets from this; and Ariel “Aying” Viñas of Cabiao, Nueva Ecija narrated how he started his pastillas business and how he made it to be dubbed as the “king of pastillas-making in Southern Nueva Ecija”.

“When I decided to start my own pastillas business, I wanted to make something distinctly Aying’s. I improved the recipe I learned from my former employer and created my own version of the existing flavors. Each time I see food products when I go out with my family, I always think of how I can incorporate those items with pastillas. I would do some experiments until I eventually develop a new recipe,” Viñas shared.

On the other hand, for the “nagtagumpay” (rising above subsistence), testimonies of dairy farmers on how the dairy carabao program benefitted their families was the highlight. Narration of their stories on how their children were able to graduate from college thru the help of dairy carabaos was presented in a video material.

The two-day event was attended by some 500 dairy farmers, partners, businessmen, local government officials and representatives from various government agencies and private organizations that are actively involved in the implementation of the CDP being carried out by PCC.

Successful dairy carabao farmers, entrepreneurs, to be highlighted in 2nd National Carabao Conference

Posted on | by Ma. Cecilia C. Irang

“Nagsipag… Nagnegosyo… Nagtagumpay!”.

This will be the theme for the second “National Carabao Conference (NCC)” which will be held on November 14 and 15 at the national headquarters and gene pool of the Philippine Carabao Center (PCC), Science City of Muñoz in Nueva Ecija.

The conference aims to gather participants, trustees, and all those who are benefitting in the dairy carabao-based industry.

It will serve as a venue for meaningful interaction among the participants and will be a source of significant information, ideas, and good practices for sharing and disseminating, which is expected to inspire more to participate in the Carabao Development Program (CDP). 

The two-day event is expected to be attended by some 500 dairy farmers, partners, businessmen, local government officials and representatives from various government agencies and private organizations that are actively involved in the implementation of the CDP, which is considered as PCC’s flagship program.

Senator Cynthia Villar, vice-chair of the Committee on Agriculture and Food, and Department of Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel “Manny” Piñol are expected to be present in the event as the guests of honor and will be joining the dairy farmers in an open forum.

According to Wilma Del Rosario, National Impact Zone (NIZ) coordinator of PCC and the overall chair for the second NCC, there will be breakout sessions and speakers to realize the concept of the theme.

For the “nagsipag” (diligent technology adopters), those who will share their stories are farmers who have been persistent in alleviating their way of living thru the income that they earn from the dairy carabaos. They will also narrate their good practices in the value chain and how they adopt technologies in their respective activities. 

In the “nagnegosyo” (innovative entrepreneurs), businessmen will highlight and promote their carabao-based enterprises and their products out of carabao’s milk, meat, and hide such as ice cream, pastillas, tapa, chicharong kalabaw and others.

On the other hand, for the “nagtagumpay” (rising above subsistence), this will involve testimonies of dairy farmers on how the dairy carabao program benefitted their families. Narration of their stories on how their children were able to graduate from college thru the help of dairy carabaos will be done thru a video presentation. 

It is shown, as of now, that many children of dairy farmers who were once hopeless to reach college, have now finished their respective bachelor’s degrees thru the help of the income that their parents earn from the dairy carabaos, the organizers of the event said. They now have their own jobs and are beholden to the dairy carabaos for the daily income that has helped them achieve their dreams.

Other activities lined-up for the conference are products exhibition, Knowledge Café (media forum), National Knowledge Sharing Forum on Carabao-based Enterprise Development with the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture, and a tour of PCC’s major facilities.

 

PCC organizes milk supplementation program orientation meeting

Posted on | by Reshel Joy D. Jara

A 120-day milk supplementation program is soon to benefit parents and daycare pupils in Aliaga, Nueva Ecija. This goal was concretized in a meeting with Philippine Carabao Center (PCC) and key stakeholders last November 4 in Aliaga, Nueva Ecija.

The PCC National Impact Zone (NIZ) together with the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office (MSWD) organized the said orientation meeting which was attended by the technical working group composed of PCC NIZ Coordinator Wilma Del Rosario, Municipal Health Unit (MHO) focal person Lorie Umpada, MSWD focal person Vangie Mercado and Nueva Ecija Federation of Dairy Carabao Cooperative (NEFEDCCO) representative Janice Domingo. Aliaga Mayor Gonzalo “Boy” Moreno, PCC at Central Luzon State University (CLSU) Center Director, Dr. Daniel Aquino, PCC Senior Science Research Specialist, Ma. Theresa Sawit, and NEFEDCCO chairman Gerardo delos Santos.

The orientation aimed to inform the parents and the pupils the importance of drinking carabao’s milk and to lessen the problem of the increasing number of malnourished children in the country and to help the dairy farmers in the distribution and marketing of their milk produce. 

Nutritionists approve of the benefits of carabao’s milk. Studies show that carabao’s milk contains riboflavin or vitamin B2 needed for normal growth, an agent against skin swelling, inflammation of the lining of mouth and tongue, and dizziness. Its vitamin A content is good for maintaining good eyesight while vitamin D, calcium and phosphorus are valuable nutrients for strong teeth and bones.

The said milk supplementation program will be funded by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) National Office. 

It was also agreed in the meeting that the MSWD will first get consent of parents before the implementation of the program. 

NEFEDCCO is tapped as the milk supplier for the said feeding program. Select NEFEDCCO staff have undergone training on milk processing under PCC for this purpose. 

The launching of the program is scheduled on November 21.