Author: Ma. Cecilia Irang-Mariano

The Simula ng Panibagong Bukas Multipurpose Cooperative (SIPBU MPC) in San Jose City, Nueva Ecija has taken its dairy enterprise to the next level, as it will soon have its own processing facility for value-added dairy products.

This was after the co-op signed, today, August 12, a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the Department of Agrarian Reform-Nueva Ecija Provincial Office (DARPO), DA-Philippine Carabao Center (DA-PCC), LGU-San Jose City, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and Department of Science and Technology (DOST) for the Enhancement of the Dairy Processing Center under the DAR’s Village Level Farm-Focused Enterprise Development Project.

Said project aims to establish viable and profitable enterprises and facilitate access to mainstream markets, allowing the participation of smallholder farmers and other members of the community in various livelihood opportunities within the dairy value chain. 

The co-op’s collection center will be upgraded to a two-story structure for the processing and production of different milk products, including the Karabun, a nutrient-rich bread made with fresh carabao’s milk. Such development is one of the SIPBU MPC’s strategic plans to diversify revenue streams through value-added products.

As stipulated in the MOA, the SIPBU MPC, DARPO, and LGU San Jose City shall chip in PHP1.8M, PHP300,000, and PHP700,000, respectively, for the construction of the processing center.

The DA-PCC, on the other hand, will provide necessary training and technical support on carabao health and dairy production management, record keeping, milk quality, and product development. It will also assist in establishing a dairy processing center, a Karabun production facility, and marketing strategies.

The DTI will provide, among others, technical and extension assistance in the improvement of the processing facility through the provision of processing equipment or shared service facility. Meanwhile, the DOST will provide technical assistance in the acquisition of a license to operate (LTO), crafting the Good Manufacturing Practices manual by providing a series of training, product laboratory testing for nutrition facts and shelf life analysis, and technology consultancy.

“The project can bring livelihood and income opportunities to 78 family members of the cooperative. The co-op’s current supply of at least 350 liters of milk production daily is sold only as raw milk, which has a lower value. With the help of the facility, the farmers can produce quality products and earn more profit,” Joel Cabading, DA-PCC’s OIC section head of the Carabao-based Enterprise Development, said.

SIPBU MPC chairperson Freddie Carlos accepted the challenge and vowed to do their part for the project to pan out. The facility, he said, would help them satisfy the milk demand of the National Feeding Program.

“Lubos po kaming nagpapasalamat sa DAR, LGU, DTI, at DOST sa walang sawang pagsuporta gayundin sa DA-PCC sa patuloy na paglinang sa aming kakayahan upang mapagtagumpayan ang negosyong salig sa kalabaw,” Carlos expressed.

Karabella Dairy, a social enterprise that proudly uses 100% carabao’s milk and natural ingredients in its products, launches a new line of its artisanal gelato in partnership with Destileria Limtuaco & Co., the oldest extant distillery in the country.

The new flavors introduced were Amadeo (coffee liquor gelato), Very Old Captain (artisan crafted dark rum), Intramuros (liqueur de cacao gelato), Paradise (mango rum liqueur gelato), and Manille (liqueur de calamansi gelato).

“These were very own brands by Filipino craft spirits, and we try to limit our suppliers and work with local farmers and cooperatives. The use of 100% carabao’s milk was a factor in the decision since we don’t like to compromise on quality and we want a 100% natural product,” stated Alfred Ng, Karabella Dairy’s president and chief financial officer.

Olivia Limpe-Aw, CEO of Destileria Limtuaco & Co., on the other hand, said Karabella and their company share the same goal of promoting quality local products.

Karabella Dairy sources its fresh carabao’s milk from the General Trias Dairy Raisers Multi-Purpose Cooperative (GTDRMPC), a cooperative assisted by the Department of Agriculture-Philippine Carabao Center at the University of the Philippines Los Baños (DA-PCC at UPLB).

GTDRMPC chairperson Samuel Potante said that Karabella Dairy weekly picks up about 200 liters of fresh carabao’s milk from them.

“Sana magtuluy-tuloy ang partnership namin with Karabella kasi napakalaking-tulong nito sa mga farmers, lalo na ngayong wala pang milk feeding program sa aming lugar,” Potante hopefully said.

DA-PCC Deputy Executive Director for Production and Research Dr. Claro N. Mingala was recently named Outstanding Veterinarian in the 2022 Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) Awards last July 29 held at The Manila Hotel with the theme PRC@49: “Forging Ahead Towards Professionalism, Resiliency, and Competitiveness.”

Dr. Mingala, who was also recently conferred the rank of Scientist IV under the Civil Service Commission (CSC) and Department of Science and Technology (DOST), was recognized for his commitment and noteworthy contributions in the fields of veterinary research and animal biotechnology while serving farming communities as a PCCean. He is among the few selected individuals to receive the PRC Outstanding Professionals of the Year Award for 2022.

The two other categories include Outstanding Accredited Professional Organization of the Year and the Nubla Excellence Award.

“Professionalism, resiliency, competitiveness–all these are distinct qualities highly required among professionals today to be able to come to terms with the changing work environment,” Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Secretary Hon. Bienvenido Laguesma said in a written message read by DOLE Legislative and Legal Affairs Undersecretary Atty. Felipe Egargo Jr.

“It is my hope that you will continue to be effective models of professionalism, resiliency, and competitiveness as we all respond to present-day challenges. In so doing, we inspire others to become beacons of hope and change,” he underscored.

Beyond the recognition, the PRC awards aim to breed the values of professionalism, integrity, responsibility, competence, and excellence among workers in different fields of discipline while championing nationwide progress.

Understanding the use of livestock biotechnology in speeding up livestock food production to satisfy the demand of the world’s growing population was the focus of the recent month-long intensive training at the DA-PCC National Headquarters and Gene Pool (NHGP) participated by researchers in ASEAN member countries.

Said activity was conducted under the project titled “Capability building of ASEAN Biotechnology Researchers for Livestock Resiliency and Sustainability” which was held from July 4, 2022 to July 29, 2022.

Outputs of this development intervention all lead, ultimately, to boosting farmers’ incomes, enhancing productivity as well as discovering better ways to manage livestock production amid climatic changes that affect the dynamics of the livestock industry.

Said training is also seen as an avenue to foster regional cooperation among ASEAN Member States (AMS) on biotechnology research for livestock resiliency and sustainability by creating an enabling scientific environment for young researchers engaged in livestock innovations.

The participants include 14 researchers (one participant each from Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand; two from the Philippines; two extra slots prioritized for Cambodia, Myanmar, and Vietnam; and two researchers from Japan). The participants underwent a screening process, while the two participants from Japan were selected in consultation with the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries (MAFF).

The activities include orientation on the general objectives of the program and current developments in livestock biotechnology in the Philippines, Japan, and other countries; a two-day research proposal writing workshop; training on different laboratory techniques; research proposal writing for the research collaboration; and presentation of significant findings or knowledge and skills gained during the training.

Experts from DA-PCC research units and other local and international PCC collaborators who have relevant knowledge on Livestock Biotechnology were invited. Dr. Satoru Konnai from the Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, Department of Disease Control, Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine in Hokkaidu University served as a resource person on the current status of livestock biotechnology research in Japan.

The participants showed their key findings, and newfound knowledge, and presented their own written proposals at the end of the training. They were also required to complete a pre- and post-evaluation to identify potential learning subjects and assess the new information, abilities, and understanding they acquired over the month-long program.

“I hope that the Philippines not only imparted with you some breadth of scientific knowledge about the technologies that we have here but also our own brand of hospitality. We are one as an ASEAN community, so we should act as one in development when it comes to sharing our knowledge and talents,” Dr. Claro Mingala, DA-PCC’s Deputy Executive Director for Production and Research and Director of DA Biotech Program Office, said.

The final report and training results will be posted on the ASEAN-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership (AJCEP) website. In order to maintain the initiatives and outputs of the training, DA-PCC will also work to establish ongoing collaboration with and among AMS taking off with the research proposals generated during the training. Participants were also encouraged to submit their research proposals to AJC to continue building up meaningful scientific collaborations.

The Department of Agriculture-Philippine Carabao Center (DA-PCC) will form regional and national councils to standardize the 24 Dairy Box Stores in the country following its agreement with its clients and carabao-based enterprise development (CBED) coordinators to form such body.

The agreement was made during the conduct of the Dairy Box Standardization Workshop of DA-PCC in Iloilo (for Visayas and Mindanao clusters) and Baguio City (Luzon cluster) last June 1-2 and July 7-8, respectively.

Dairy Box is a physical store, which brings the carabao farmers’ buffalo-derived products closer to the market. It was launched by the DA-PCC in the Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija in 2015 and continuously multiplying across the country after the said launching.

Dairy Box Standardization lead and Project Evaluation Officer Jan Czarina Salas said that the initiative for the purpose started when the DA-PCC observed that the multiplication of the said stores varies when it comes to branding and operations, hence, the need to form regional and national councils that will oversee such concerns.

Based on the agreement, the regional and national councils will each have an organized set of officers including its chairperson, vice-chairperson, and others.

The regional council will be formed in the 12 regional centers of DA-PCC across the country, while the national council will be organized through the election of chairpersons coming from the regional councils. It will be composed of stakeholders coming from both the public and private sectors, including the farmer-beneficiaries of the Dairy Boxes and the DA-PCC. Said councils will also be assisted by the Philippine Council for Agriculture and Fisheries (PCAF) whose services include formulation of sound policies, plans and program for both of the public and private sectors.

The workshop was conducted through lectures and hands-on training. Dr. Edilyn Lansangan, DA-PCC Financial Analyst Giselle Sacupaso, and DA-PCC Science Research Specialist Pauline Maramag served as the resource persons during the activity. They talked about competitive marketing strategies for dairy retail store operations, inventory and basic cash management, and record management tools.

Initial deliberation and sharing on the following items were also discussed as part of the urgent concerns that need to be addressed by the councils: (1) Product Mix, (2) Store Merchandizing, (3) Marketing and Promotion, (4) Record Keeping, and Cash and Inventory Management, (5) Guidelines in Promotion and Distribution; and (6) creation of partnership and sustainability programs particularly in the hiring of focal person per regional centers and partner qualification and incentive mechanism.

DA-PCC OIC Executive Director Dr. Caro B. Salces and Supervising Science Research Specialist Dr. Peregrino G. Duran each received the Civil Service Commission (CSC) Pagasa Award in the recent 2022 Search for Outstanding Government Employees Regional Honor Awards Program (HAP)-Region 3.

CSC Field Office DA/DENR Director Fe P. Lacaba formally conferred the award on Drs. Salces and Duran with a certificate in a ceremony with DA-PCC staff held in Doña Josefa, Quezon City on July 6, 2022.

“Ito ay simbolo hindi lang sa amin but simbolo ng ating agency at officemates,” said Dr. Salces.

With four other CSC awardees from DA-PCC last year, he noted that these consecutive recognitions are reflective of the exceptional workers that the agency breeds. In addition, he said that the award is a result of the team effort and passion of each PCCean from across the network.

“I know marami din sa mga kasama natin sa DA-PCC are deserving (of this award). Hindi lang kami ni Doc Bong ang nagsipag at naging commited, marami pang iba sa atin,” he said.

“The culture of excellence, professionalism, integrity, innovative, commitment at saka socio-ecological responsiveness (EPIICS) –itong ating kultura (sa PCC) ang nagdala sa atin upang magawa ang mga kailangan nating gawin to provide quality services sa ating mga kliyente,” added Dr. Salces.

Dr. Duran corroborates this statement by saying that his years in the agency are purpose-driven with the mission to provide quality services to farmers in order to improve their livelihood.

“Every encounter with successful farmers whose livelihood depends greatly on their carabao gives me joy and assurance that our jobs keep this system,” Dr. Duran said.

“I will continue with the mission that God entrusted to me, and may we continue to have progress in this industry,” he concluded.

The CSC Pagasa Award is given to individuals or groups for outstanding contribution/s resulting from idea or performance that benefit more than one department of the government. The two awardees will advance to the national screening of said award. The announcement of national winners is yet to be scheduled.

The DA-PCC’s nationwide commitment for the DepEd’s School-based Feeding Program in 2022 has already reached 1,157,825 beneficiaries, 24.46% of such commitment were from its National Headquarters and Gene Pool (NHQGP). It is 5.07% higher than the 2019 level, which had 19.39% record of share in the national commitment. Moreover, two successful cycles of the supplementary feeding program of DSWD have been concluded while another milk feeding program is underway for the month of July.

These were some of the notable accomplishments highlighted during the recently conducted Cycle Assessment and Catch-up Planning for the Milk Feeding Program and Organizational Development Activity in San Juan, La Union.

Said activity was participated in by the agency’s Milk Feeding staff members headed by newly designated DA-PCC National Milk Feeding Coordinator Joel F. Cabading and Central Dairy Collection Processing Facility (CDCPF) Management and Processing personnel headed by Plant Manager Marivic A. Orge.

Republic Act 11037 also known as the “Masustansyang Pagkain para sa Batang Pilipino Act” unlocked opportunities for DA-PCC to extend its hand to its assisted dairy local farmers and cooperatives. This law generally aims to improve the nutritional status of undernourished children and at the same time create market channels for the milk products of local dairy farmers.

Aside from the increased number of beneficiaries, the DA-PCC now provides services from 15 Schools Division Offices (SDO) of DepEd in 2019 to 19 SDOs after extending its area of milk supplementation from Regions 2 and 3 to the National Capital Region (NCR). This progress also paves the way to creating a direct market for more DA-PCC-assisted milk feeding suppliers, from four cooperatives and one federation in 2019 to six cooperatives and one federation in 2022.

The activity also had a discussion, facilitated by Orge, where identified issues and concerns throughout the value chain from the previous and on-going cycles of the milk feeding program were tackled and provided with possible solutions. Several plans and actions were developed to cope with the dynamic changes affecting the implementation of the program.

An Organizational Development Activity, facilitated by Cabading, was conducted as well to develop individual capacity among the participants in pursuing and accomplishing their respective tasks and responsibilities.

Furthermore, the participants were given a group activity to impart their knowledge on how they function as a group to contribute to the overall success of the team and the improvement of the service being provided to partners and clients. In this particular assembly, team building activities were also given to the participants in order to develop a team that strategically provides action to solve the given task. This activity aims to hone the whole group to function as one and be able to identify their specific tasks and utilize their strengths and knowledge to minimize errors that might hinder the progress of the program.

The Extension and Advisory Services Information System (EASIS) project of the DA-PCC through the Knowledge Management Division (KMD) in partnership with the Grameen Foundation Philippines is now on its third phase, which involves rolling out of the developed mobile applications for utilization by extension officers (EO), village-based field veterinarians, and technicians.

The EASIS is a three-phase project of the DA-PCC with Grameen. The latter developed two mobile applications known as the KBGAN iHealth and KBGAN iFeed in consultation with DA-PCC’s technical experts in the fields of animal health and nutrition. These apps aim to ultimately improve the extension and advisory services provided by DA-PCC on enhanced dairy buffalo production and management of small-scale carabao farmers.

In the just-concluded three-day Training of Trainers (TOT) at the DA-PCC national headquarters in the Science City of Muñoz, the participants (carabao-based enterprise development coordinators and LGU partners from the rollout sites) were trained thoroughly on the proper usage of the apps. Said partners in the implementation of the project will soon transfer and introduce the apps to village-based technicians within their areas of coverage.

The phase three of the project has a program summary timeline that started last May and will conclude by January of 2023. It includes orientation and consultation with area partners, enlisting of carabao farmers, baseline survey of farmers, and reporting of the results of the survey. Meanwhile, phases one and two included, among others, the production of learning videos and the development of mobile apps.

During the action planning, the participants pledged their commitment and support to the implementation of the project.

Dr. Marvin Villanueva, Senior Science Research Specialist and OIC Chief of the Research and Development Division/Chief of the Livestock Biotechnology Center, has joined the DA-PCC’s growing pool of career scientists after he was conferred a Scientist I rank under the Agricultural Sciences Division of the Scientific Career System (SCS) effective May 20, 2022.

The conferment of Dr. Villanueva makes him the 8th active career scientist of the agency.

The SCS is “a system of recruitment, career progression, recognition and reward of scientists in the government service as a means of developing a pool of highly qualified and productive scientific personnel”. Its program is being administered by the National Academy of Science and Technology(NAST) under the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), and the Civil Service Commission.

An Outstanding Young Scientist awardee in 2021, Dr. Villanueva is a graduate of Doctor of Philosophy in Veterinary Medicine at Hokkaido University in Sapporo, Japan with a specialization in Bacterial Zoonotic Diseases.

Dr. Villanueva, together with his team, developed advanced/molecular-based diagnostic tests for sensitive detection of livestock diseases such as interferon-gamma release assay for bovine tuberculosis, and loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) test for bovine leptospirosis. These sensitive and rapid diagnostic tests are currently used in the country for faster disease detection and initiation of treatment and control measures.

In his desire to address immediate problems in the livestock industry particularly in animal health, he is currently collaborating with local and international experts and institutions on the development of autogenous vaccine and pen-side nanosensor-based diagnostic tool, antimicrobial resistance, solidification of biosecurity protocols using smart technologies, and development of rapid diagnostic kits and novel therapeutics against economically imperative diseases in the Philippines.

His recent involvement is the development of KBGAN iHealth mobile app as part of the Extension and Advisory Services Information (EASIS) Project between the DA-PCC and the Grameen Foundation.

Dr. Villanueva’s scientific journey and passion are also heavily influenced by his commitment to work and uphold the mission of his agency, which is to serve the Filipino farmers and promote the improvement of their welfare, particularly those in the livestock sector, in order to create a food-secure, economically sustainable, and safe Philippines.

The DA-PCC recognizes Dr. Villanueva’s accomplishments, specifically in developing technology to prevent and mitigate buffalo diseases. His significant research outputs have been and will continue to be a crucial contribution to the development of the livestock sector.