The free bags of flour donated by SMF, through its Program Assistant Clara Cabrera, is in response to DA-PCC’s initiative of collaborating with the private sectors to make food available and affordable while ensuring continuous livelihood opportunities for carapreneurs in communities affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
This is not the first collaboration of DA-PCC with SMF. Last May, the latter bought fresh carabao’s milk from farmer-cooperatives struggling to cope with the pandemic, which was then donated to poor communities and food banks in and around Metro Manila and neighboring provinces.
“This turnover ceremony is just the tip of the iceberg,” said DA-PCC Executive Director Dr. Arnel Del Barrio as DA-PCC is set to formally launch the MilkyBun Production Center by September.
Said project is in line with the “Bayanihan to Heal as One Act” (RA 11469) and the DA’s “Ahon Lahat, Pagkaing Sapat (ALPAS) Kontra sa COVID-19”.
The DA-PCC through its Research and Development Division (RDD) developed the MilkyBun, a nutrient-rich bread made with fresh carabao’s milk, to help boost the immune system of the vulnerable sector especially children because the amount of protein and carbohydrates in one glass of milk is equivalent to one MilkyBun.
Meanwhile, 72 bags of flour were also given to Bohol Dairy Cooperative for the same purpose.
Also present during the ceremony were Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer Joyce Ramones, Chief Agrarian Reform Program Officer Borromeo Pascual, DA-PCC Deputy Executive Director Dr. Caro Salces, RDD Officer-in-Charge Dr. Eufrocina Atabay, Project Evaluation Officer Dr. Ericson dela Cruz, and RDD-CEDS Head Mina Abella, CAMPC Chairman Ferdinand Cueva and General Manager Leoncio Callo. Select staff members of DA-PCC, Department of Agrarian Reform, and CAMPC also graced the program.
