Author: Rodolfo Jr. T. Valdez

Dairy buffalo farmers in South Cotabato prepare for exciting opportunities in dairying with an assured market for their milk produce following the establishment of a marketing outlet  in Surallah, South Cotabato.

During a groundbreaking ceremony held last July 8, Department of Agriculture-Philippine Carabao Center at University of Southern Mindanao (DA-PCC at USM) Center Director Benjamin John C. Basilio emphasized the importance of the dairy hub as a venue to promote quality milk products in Region XII.

Said hub is the first-ever processing hub for buffalo’s milk in the region.

“With the establishment of this hub, we are gradually completing the carabao value-chain in South Cotabato. Buffalo’s milk for processing will be coming from the produce of carapreneurs from Banga, Lake Sebu, Sto. Niño, Surallah, T’boli and neighboring towns in South Cotabato,” Director Basilio said.

“We are expecting an increase in the demand for buffalo’s milk products following this milestone,” Loyda Estañol, a dairy farmer and member of CADAFA-Surallah, said.

Underscoring the DA’s slogan “Masaganang Ani at Mataas na Kita”, Department of Agriculture Region XII Director Arlan M. Mangelen expressed his staunch support to the project to help achieve the goal to produce more milk in the region and alleviate farmers from mere subsistence.

The construction of the Php3.6-million dairy hub is part of the Php10 million budget of the Carabao Value Chain Improvement Network (CVIN) for South Cotabato under the project Accelerating Livelihood and Assets Buildup or ALAB-Karbawan initiated by Senate Committee Chair on Agriculture and Food Senator Cynthia A. Villar.

Focused on alleviating malnutrition among indigenous people in Upper Valley, South Cotabato, the DA-Philippine Carabao Center at University of Southern Mindanao (DA-PCC at USM) launched recently the Accelerating Livelihood and Assets Buildup (ALAB) Karbawan project in Lake Sebu, South Cotabato.

The Highland Agricultural Credit Cooperative (HACC) is the participating conduit cooperative.

Initially, 18 animals from a total commitment of 50 head female crossbred buffaloes were entrusted to the conduit co-op as component of the project, which was sponsored by Senator Cynthia A. Villar.

“We make sure that our dairy projects like ALAB-Karbawan are inclusive and accessible to all sectors especially the marginalized such as indigenous people. It is quite challenging for HACC to develop and sustain a dairy value chain but with the support of our partners and the local and provincial governments, we can help them achieve a ‘masaganang ani at mataas na kita’ as espoused by the Department of Agriculture,” Benjamin John C. Basilio, DA-PCC at USM center director, said.

Regional executive director of DA-RFO-XII Arlan M. Mangelen reiterated the all-out support of the regional office to the project beneficiaries. Mangelen recognized in his message the important role of dairy farmers in contributing to national food security.

In addition, DA-RFO-XII “Task Force Gatas” Ret. Col. Celestino Desamito challenged the HACC to boost their capacity in dairying in order to address malnutrition and develop a dairy hub in Upper Valley.

“We are ready to take on all the challenges that are coming our way. Dairying is new to us but with the able guidance of PCC, we are looking forward to a flourishing local dairy industry in Lake Sebu,” Merlinda Go, HACC chairperson, said.

Prior to the entrustment of dairy animals, HACC members have undergone social preparation and technical training on buffalo production and management to help them develop strong commitment to the project and to provide them with knowledge and skills on dairy production systems. Soon, members of the co-op are expected to serve as effective disseminators of technologies on improved management practices to fellow farmers.

As one component of the Department of Agriculture’s Ahon Lahat, Pagkaing Sapat Kontra COVID-19 (ALPAS COVID-19) Program, 30 buffaloes for fattening were entrusted to farmer-members of Sudipen Dairy Farmers Association in Barangay Castro, Sudipen, La Union last July 1.

The initiative is under one of the four components of the project called Unlad Lahi Project (ULaP), whose objective is to increase milk and meat production, create jobs, and provide livelihood for displaced farmers.

The DA-Philippine Carabao Center at Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University (DA-PCC@DMMMSU), headed by its Officer in Charge Center Director Vilma Gagni, in partnership with the local government unit of La Union, spearheaded the activity.

“Kung mangangarap lang din tayo, lakihan na natin (If we’re going to dream, we better make it big),” DA-PCC Executive Director Dr. Arnel del Barrio said in a motivational speech addressing the recipients of the buffaloes.

He said their small-scale association could very well become provincewide someday.

Marvin Macanas, chairman of the recipient association and a village-based AI technician, expressed his gratitude to PCC and the LGU of La Union for this project that is expected to provide livelihood opportunities to farmers.

After the short program, community feeding of more than 20 select children with 200 ml pasteurized carabao’s milk was conducted under Gulay, Isda, Gatas at Karne (GIGK), which is another project component of ALPAS COVID-19.

The feeding program coincided with the celebration of the Nutrition Month with the theme “Batang Pinoy SANA TALL… Iwas stunting, SANA ALL!” with the objective of raising awareness on stunting among Filipino children and eventually reducing its prevalence.

A meeting between the Provincial Government of La Union and DA-PCC was also held to discuss the implementation of Dairy Buffalo-based Enterprise Project to be funded by Senator Cynthia Villar wherein at least 60 dairy carabaos, milk processing equipment and milk outlet will be covered.

The Department of Agriculture-Philippine Carabao Center at Mariano Marcos State University (DA-PCC at MMSU), along with other government agencies, institutions, and individuals, were recognized by the City Government of Batac in a simple ceremony on June 29, 2020.

During the 39th regular session of the Sangguniang Panlungsod held on May 11, 2020, a resolution was passed acknowledging the effort of PCC at MMSU to deliver relief assistance to the vulnerable sector in the midst of a state of health emergency due to COVID-19.

The DA-PCC at MMSU provided 200 ml packs of fresh milk and choco milk for 10 days to 803 frontliners of the LGU, Philippine National Police, Bureau of Fire Protection, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), University Security Force, as well as Persons Deprived of Liberty.

Vice Mayor Windell D. Chua said DA-PCC at MMSU’s manifestation of kindness to the people of Batac at the time of crisis is appreciated.

Mayor Albert D. Chua, on the other hand, ensured that whatever assistance they receive will surely reach the people of Batac. Prof. Grace Marjorie R. Recta, center director of DA-PCC at MMSU, received the certificates during the ceremony dubbed as “Panagyaman Kadagiti Naparabur a Kailian” held at the Sangguniang Panlungsod Session Hall.

Some 5,130 undernourished children are expected to benefit from the recently launched provincewide community milk feeding program in Bohol.

The initial delivery of 200-ml toned milk to five municipalities on May 6, 2020 launched the partnership between the Department of Agriculture-Philippine Carabao Center at Ubay Stock Farm (DA-PCC at USF) and Bohol Provincial Local Government Unit (PLGU) for the said program.

“Bohol Governor Arthur Yap approved the Php6 million-worth program to help dairy farmers market their milk produce even in the time of pandemic. While aiming for this, we also want to boost the immunity  of those belonging in the vulnerable sectors”, Dr. Stella Marie Lapiz, the provincial veterinarian of Bohol, said.

Prior to the outbreak of the COVID-19 crisis, the Office of the Provincial Veterinarian crafted the Agricultural Rural Transformation (ART) program through the dairy production project.

The ART detailed the major strategies and activities to be carried out to ensure that there would be enough supply of locally produced milk to meet the requirement of the Department of Education (DepEd) under RA 11037 or the National Feeding Program Act.

The supposed implementation of the national milk feeding program was, however, indefinitely deferred due to the pandemic but production support services such as artificial insemination (AI) will continue.

Farmers who will be participating in the feeding project will be enrolled in a database to ensure that they will comply to the directive of Governor Yap on boosting local milk production.

“Initially nakasugod na gayud sa San Miguel. Nag actual nag enrollment sa mga additional na kabaw sa mga farmers. Naabtan man ta sa COVID mao to medyo ni hinay para pagtabok sa pikas nga lungsod peru  despite adto nakasugod naman lagi padayon me sa A.I ug enrollment.  For San Miguel alone naka enroll ta ug 160 ka mga kabaw for dairy (We started enrolling additional farmers’ carabaos in San Miguel. Travelling to the municipalities, however, became restricted because of COVID but we were still able to enroll  160 head of carabaos for dairy in San Miguel alone”, Dr. Lapiz said.

She added the PLGU intends to use the fund for milk importation to help local farmers instead of patronizing imported produce.

Meanwhile, DA-PCC at USF facilitates and monitors the production of quality milk, ensures that milk products adhere to food safety and standards, and assists the delivery to beneficiaries.

The community feeding program, which is hoped to culminate in August 2020 and will run for 60 days, is co-implemented by the Bohol Provincial Education Center and Provincial Nutrition Council, and.  The participating municipalities include the following: Pres. Carlos P. Garcia, Talibon, Bien Unido, Getafe, Buenavista, Ubay, San Miguel, Sagbayan, Danao, Pilar, Alicia, Guindulman, Baclayon, Sevilla, Balilihan, Carmen, and Cortes.

Milk will be sourced out from the Bohol Dairy Cooperative (BODACO).

Aside from alleviating malnutrition among children, market for dairy farmers’ produce was also guaranteed under the joint undertaking of the Department of Agriculture-Philippine Council for Agriculture and Fisheries (DA-PCAF), DA-Philippine Carabao Center (DA-PCC), and Nueva Ecija Federation of Dairy Carabao Cooperatives (NEFEDCCO).

This was following the signing of a memorandum of agreement among the three parties, which aims to advocate for health awareness in response to the unprecedented challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Under the partnership, NEFEDCCO has a sure market for its milk produce as the DA-PCAF procured Php100,000 worth of carabao’s milk (a total of 300 liters) to be used in a milk feeding program for three months, which will benefit 46 malnourished children (3-5 years old) from the select barangays of Talavera in Nueva Ecija.

The DA-PCAF, headed by OIC-Executive Director Dr. Liza Battad, closely coordinated with NEFEDCCO in identifying the recipients for the milk feeding program. It identified 46 beneficiaries in areas with high incidence of malnutrition among children. Other factors such as the feeding center’s proximity to the source of pasteurized milk and availability of cooling facilities for the pasteurized milk were considered in the selection.

This initiative is DA-PCAF’s effort to contribute to the DA’s mandate of ensuring food availability and sufficiency and providing income to the farmers and fisherfolk.

The undertaking seeks to become an advocacy program worthy of emulation by other local government units with milk producers and disadvantaged children.

The DA-PCC, meanwhile, assists NEFEDCCO in the implementation of the project through its National Impact Zone that covers the province of Nueva Ecija under its Carabao Development Program. It also supports the federation in milk analysis and other relevant technical services that will ensure the quality of carabao’s milk product through the DA-PCC’s Carabao Enterprise Development Section.

This effort aims to encourage carabao-based cooperatives across the DA-PCC network to become members of the Agricultural and Fishery Councils as advisory bodies of the DA.

The milk feeding started last June 1 and will end in August. NEFEDCCO and DA-PCC will continuously monitor and provide feedback to DA-PCAF regarding the status of implementation of the advocacy project.

The DA-PCC recently awarded 10 of dairy buffaloes and one breeding bull to farmers cooperative Nueva Segovia Consortium of Cooperatives (NSCC) in Caoayan, Ilocos Sur last June 25.Said activity is a component of the Carabao-based Business Improvement Network project called “Accelerating Livelihood and Assets Buildup” or ALAB Karbawan. Thisprovincewide development project is sponsored by the Office of Senator Cynthia Villar, which aims to support carabao value chain stakeholders particularly carabao farmers.

The animal entrustment followed after the blessing of the newly-constructed animal housing facility that can accommodate at least 40 animals. The construction of the Php2 million worth facility, which is the co-op’s counterpart for the project, was made possible through the leadership of its Chief Executive Officer Dr. Divina C. Quemi.The NSCC is one of the successful cooperatives in Ilocos Sur operating various enterprises related to agriculture, hotels, and restaurants. It also offers various programs and services on agro-enterprise and marketing, training, tourism, and financial and social aspects.

Aside from NSCC, the Northern Ilocos Sur Agricultural Cooperative (NISAC) in barangay Baclig, Cabugao, Ilocos Sur, which received 16 female dairy buffaloes in November last year, is also a conduit cooperative under the ALAB Karbawan project.

As an initiative under the DA-PCC’s Ahon Lahat, Pagkaing Sapat (ALPAS) Kontra sa COVID-19 (DA-ALPAS COVID-19) program or popularly known as “Plant, Plant, Plant”, it has launched today its community gulayan project at the national headquarters, Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija.

The DA-PCC continues its advocacy in alleviating malnutrition as it conducted a Community Milk Feeding Program in Barangay Concepcion, Sto. Domingo, Nueva Ecija today.