Author: Charlene P. Corpuz

“Bohol can be a model in showing the rest of the country how to develop the dairy industry for the benefit of everyone. If it can be done in this province, then it can be done in the whole country as well.”

This was underscored by Senator Cynthia Villar, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food, in her keynote message during the 5th Bohol Milk Festival held last November 28 at the Farmers Trading Post, Lomangog, Ubay, Bohol.

In her speech, she extended her appreciation towards the efforts of the province in organizing such activity to live up to its unofficial title as “dairy capital of the country”.

She also shared how the Bohol Dairy Cooperative (BoDaCo), assisted by the Philippine Carabao Center at Ubay Stock Farm (PCC@USF), inspired her to work on a project or program that will not only help provide income opportunities for dairy farmers but also address malnutrition incidence among children.

“I am glad that this cooperative in Ubay has milk processing plant and dairy products outlet. The co-op’s members know how to play their roles well. They find ways to promote their products by participating in exhibits and trade fairs. You [BoDaCo] are really my inspiration. Every time I go to other places, I always tell them to replicate Ubay’s dairy value chain,” she said.

She added that the BoDaCo, which is a model for backyard dairy production, also won the Villar Sipag Award in 2018.

Sen. Villar further imparted a brief story to inspire others. She recalled that when she visited the USF, she had an encounter with a local housewife who tended and milked three carabaos. The housewife sold the harvested milk to the town’s dairy products outlet named “Bohol Dairy”, a store being managed by PCC where BoDaCo toll processed their products. The milk sales provided them an income of Php600 a day or Php18,000 a month.

The backyard dairy production in Ubay coupled with PCC’s concept of the Dairy Box branding has impressed Sen. Villar that she provides budget for this value chain to be replicated in all provinces across the country.

Meanwhile, PCC Executive Director Dr. Arnel del Barrio took cognizance of this challenge and therefore called forth an active participation and cooperation of dairy value chain players.

“As we embark on the challenge to increase more our local dairy production, I humbly ask for the help of others and partners as PCC cannot do it alone. We need to level up our production and when we say dairy, we’re not only pertaining to carabaos, it also includes other dairy animals like cattle and goat,” he stressed.

Dr. William Medrano, Department of Agriculture’s (DA) Assistant Secretary for Livestock, mentioned about the DA’s goal, which is aligned with the festival’s theme: “Dobleng Ani, Dobleng Kita: Sa Panggatasan, Himsog nga Kabataan, Adlaw Adlaw ang Kinitaan”.

He said that all the program, projects, and activities of the department are anchored on achieving DA’s twin objectives of abundant harvest and higher income among farmers.

The highlight of the 5th Bohol Milk Festival was the launching of school-based milk feeding program with the Department of Education (DepEd) and Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) as lead agencies. It is in relation to the Republic Act No. 11037 or the “Masustansyang Pagkain Para sa Batang Pilipino Act” that was passed into law last year, which aims to address the problem of undernutrition among Filipino children.

Governor Arthur Yap, on the other hand, said that the government aims to provide milk products to the 20,000 malnourished children in the province.

He added that the DepEd has the budget to purchase the milk supply but Bohol still needs to increase its production to meet the demand through artificial insemination and breeding of 2,000 carabaos and cattle.

Other activities included were launching of Bohol Integrated Community-based Dairy farming, entrustment of dairy buffaloes and awarding of dairy supplies and equipment to farmers, sharing of farmers’ best practices, lecture on Milk Hygiene and Food Safety, and farm tour.

The event was spearheaded by the Provincial Government of Bohol thru the Provincial Veterinary Office headed by Dr. Stella Marie Lapiz and was co-conducted by the PCC, National Dairy Authority, BoDaCo, DA, LGU-Ubay, DSWD, and DepEd.

Entrustment of 10 dairy buffaloes took place alongside the launching of Farmer Livestock School on Dairy Buffalo Production (FLS-DBP) last November 22 at Lusong Suyo, Baclig, Cabugao, Ilocos Sur.

The said activity was part of the provincewide development project called “Accelerating Livelihood & Assets Buildup”, also known as ALAB Karbawan, of the Philippine Carabao Center (PCC) to support the carabao value chain stakeholders particularly carabao or water buffalo farmers.

Twenty-five farmers of the Northern Ilocos Sur Agriculture Cooperative (NISAC), which are the recipients of dairy buffaloes as well as FLS-DBP participants, were present during the activity. It was spearheaded by the staff members from the PCC national headquarters, PCC at Mariano Marcos State University (PCC@MMSU), and House of Representatives of the 1st district of Ilocos Sur.

PCC@MMSU Center Director Grace Marjorie Recta started off by providing the overview of the ALAB Karbawan project. She mentioned that the project’s goal is to create livelihood and enterprises anchored on carabao-based products, particularly milk and meat.

Also, she highlighted the project’s benefits to dairy cooperatives nationwide as she discussed the income opportunities along the dairy buffalo value chain.

Meanwhile, Florencio Malicad Jr., PCC@MMSU CBED coordinator, presented the farmer-trainees for the 34 weeks training of FLS-DBP. He mentioned that this capability enhancement strategy of PCC would help the dairy farmers to be skilled enough to handle the dairy buffaloes entrusted to them for they will learn important aspects of dairy buffalo management and production.

On the other hand, Atty. Rex Morales from the Office of the Representatives of the 1st district of Ilocos Sur expressed his full support to the project and gave words of encouragement to the participating farmers.

Dr. Caro Salces, Deputy Executive Director of PCC,  also delivered a message addressed to the dairy farmers, industry partner,  and stakeholders to elicit active cooperation and strong commitment toward achieving the goal. He emphasized the need of the industry to produce higher milk production in relation to the RA 11037 or “Masustansyang Pagkain para sa Batang Pilipino Act”. This law requires the consumption of carabao’s and cow’s milk produced by local dairy farmers to address the malnutrition of the Filipino children.

“A huge challenge to local milk production also paves the way for a greater opportunity among dairy farmers and ‘carapreneurs’”, Dr. Salces said.

With positive response and commitment, Roderick Balino, chairman of NISAC, expressed gratitude for the opportunity given to their cooperative. In his message, he looks forward to the cooperation of each member of the cooperative as a key and contribution to the success of the project in Ilocos Sur.

The special role of the carabao in improving the lives of many farming families was accentuated in a series of plenary sessions during the Philippine Carabao Center’s (PCC) 5th National Carabao Conference (NCC) held last November 14-15 at the Central Mindanao University (CMU) Convention Center in Maramag, Bukidnon. 

The impact of this important animal on the lives of farmers was substantiated by CMU President Dr. Jesus Antonio Derije in his keynote message. He said the carabao is a productive animal that contributes not only in farm works by way of its draft power but also as a profitable commodity in a business venture via its milk, meat, and other by-products such as hide and manure.

He even quoted and attested the article written by the late PCC’s editorial consultant Dr. Anselmo Roque about the carabao dairying being a booming industry. He said the carabao offers a lot of opportunities since myriads of products, such as dairy products and carabeef, can be derived from it, which command high market price and demand due to its nutritional value and good quality.

The confab, hosted by the PCC@CMU under the leadership of Dr. Lowell Paraguas and co-hosted by CMU, revolved around the theme “Masaganang Ani at Mataas na Kita sa Pagkakalabawan”, in support of the Department of Agriculture’s vision of a food-secure country with prosperous farmers and fisherfolks.

It aimed to gather participants, trustees, and all those who are benefitting from the dairy carabao-based industry. It served as a venue for meaningful interaction among the participants and 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).

PCC Executive Director Dr. Arnel del Barrio gave updates on CDP, its humble beginnings, how it flourished, and how it continues to help uplift the lives of farmers.

“What we want is for farmers to have profitable and viable enterprises to achieve more abundant harvest and higher income. Eventually, these enterprises will bring forth sustainable livelihood to the farmers and Filipinos in general,” he emphasized.

Rowena Bumanlag, PCC’s Applied Communication Section Head and 5th NCC overall chairperson, considered CDP as an integrated and diversified program.

“PCC’s program is no island. It only means that carabao can be integrated in the present farming systems and its contribution is fundamental,” she said.

The participants of this learning event were provided with insights on PCC’s unrelenting efforts and initiatives to promote the carabao industry; PCC’s partnerships with the local government units in CDP implementation; and government-funded activities through the following plenary sessions: Convergence for the Milk Feeding Program, Technology and Innovation Forum, Scaling up the Carabao-based Enterprise Value Chain, and Strengthening the Provincial Livestock Extension System.

The two-day event, which featured plenary sessions pertaining to the “new thinking” in dairy management and carabao industry in general, aimed at contributing towards more abundant harvest and higher income among farmers.

Specifically, it involved topics and discussions on “Milk Feeding Program” by Ms. Laraine Villaver of the Department of Social Welfare and Development and Myra Yee of the Department of Education Region X; best practices on “Artificial Insemination (AI) and Breeding” by Dr. Edwin Atabay, PCC’s Scientist I; “Forage Production and Animal Feeding” by Dr. Daniel Aquino, PCC@Central Luzon State University’s center director; and “Animal Health and Management” by Dr. Virgilio Lopez, PCC@University of Southern Mindanao’s Farm Superintendent II; “Barangay Livestock Aide” by Dr. Stella Marie Lapiz, Bohol Provincial Veterinarian; and “Farmer Livestock School and School on the Air on Dairy Buffalo Production: Platforms for Increased Technology Adoption” by Dr. Eric Palacpac, PCC’s Knowledge Management Division Chief.

Meanwhile, Elena Limocon, General Manager of Lamac Multipurpose Cooperative; Nida Abellanosa of Don Carlos Bukidnon; and Francisco Alex Dani Pasion of Ilocos Sur shared their exemplary testimonies on how the dairy carabao-based business has empowered them to have a sustainable livelihood through the topics “Leading a Robust Carabao-based Value Chain”, Mainstreaming the Farmers’ Cause”, and “Privatizing Artificial Insemination Service Provision”, respectively.

Apart from the plenary sessions, a convergence meeting of dairy cooperatives was also conducted to strategize the plan on how to meet the increasing demand for milk due to the national feeding program.

“Organization and partnership are two key strategic elements to increase dairy farmers’ income and provide milk for children. To achieve this, we need to build the capacity of the co-ops to manage the dairy value chain. Our goal is to reduce importation of milk by increasing local supply through a cooperative-supported dairy industry,” Cresente Paez, Program Director of the Asian Farmers’ Association Cooperative Development, explained.

The 5th NCC also featured Knowledge Exhibition, technology demonstration, launching of PCC@CMU’s Bull Barn, Semen Processing Laboratory and ‘Bukidnon Dairy’ Processing and Marketing Outlet, ceremonial awarding of dairy buffaloes to conduit cooperatives under the Accelerating Livelihood and Assets Buildup (ALAB) Karbawan project, Knowledge Café, and milk toast with elementary schoolchildren and PCC’s mascots Kalaboy and Kalagirl.

Some 600 carabao keepers, dairy farmers, partners, entrepreneurs, local government officials and representatives from various government agencies and private organizations gathered in the two-day event.

In support of the Department of Agriculture’s vision of a food-secure country with prosperous farmers and fisherfolks, the Philippine Carabao Center (PCC) will hold its 5th National Carabao Conference (NCC) with the theme “Masaganang Ani at Mataas na Kita sa Pagkakalabawan” on November 14-15 at the Central Mindanao University (CMU) Convention Center in Maramag, Bukidnon.

The annual conference aims to gather participants, trustees, and all those who are benefitting from the dairy carabao-based industry. It serves as a venue for meaningful interaction among the participants and 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).

This year’s confab, to be hosted by the PCC@CMU, will feature plenary sessions pertaining to the “new thinking” in dairy management and carabao industry in general, aimed at contributing towards more abundant harvest and higher income among farmers.

“We will be able to witness and experience a trailblazing event, which will comprise new vision, system, practice, policy, and technology as answers to the pressing issues and demands of people for food security,” Rowena Bumanlag, Information Officer III and Head of the Applied Communication Section of the PCC headquarters and 5th NCC overall chairperson, said.

With the advent of climate change, Bumanlag further mentioned the need to shift thinking in producing food and its pertinent practices to continuously augment production and improve its quality while cost of production is lowered and process is streamlined.

Despite these notable changes, she assured PCC’s adherence to its mission of serving smallhold Filipino farmers, which is geared toward establishing viable enterprises in rural villages for increased incomes and sources of empowerment not only of farmers and their families, but also of their communities.

The participants of this learning event will be provided with insights on PCC’s unrelenting efforts and initiatives to promote the carabao industry; PCC’s partnerships with the local government units in CDP implementation; and government-funded activities through the following topics: Convergence for the Milk Feeding Program, Technology and Innovation Forum, Scaling up the Carabao-based Enterprise Value Chain, and Strengthening the Provincial Livestock Extension System.

The speakers, reactors, and moderators for the plenary sessions will be coming from the government institutions and private sectors to encourage collective engagement and participation of all partners in the CDP, which is considered as PCC’s flagship program.

Aside from the plenary sessions, the 5th NCC will also feature Knowledge Exhibition, technology demonstration, launching of PCC@CMU’s Semen Processing Laboratory and ‘Bukidnon Dairy’ Processing and Marketing Outlet, awarding of dairy buffaloes to conduit cooperatives, Knowledge Café, and milk toast with grade schoolchildren and PCC mascots Kalaboy and Kalagirl.

Senator Cynthia Villar, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food, and Department of Agriculture Acting Secretary Dr. William Dar are expected to be present in the event as guests of honor.

Some 400 carabao keepers, dairy farmers, partners, entrepreneurs, local government officials and representatives from various government agencies and private organizations are anticipated to participate in the two-day event.

In recognition of Philippine Carabao Center’s (PCC) extension efforts in the National Impact Zone (NIZ) which is the province of Nueva Ecija, the NIZ Project was given a special plaque of commendation during the Philippine Extension and Advisory Services Network, Inc. (PhilEASNet) Biennial Symposium, held last October 9-10 at the Bohol Tropics Hotel in Tagbilaran City, Bohol.

“We are happy and very blessed that the NIZ project received such accolade. Beyond our work, we hope to inspire others to never give up and to pursue doing things for the greater good,” Wilma del Rosario, PCC’s NIZ coordinator said.

The PCC’s NIZ project started in 1999 as an initiative anchored towards the demonstration of the enterprise development component of the PCC’s Carabao Development Program. Back then, Nueva Ecija was chosen as the PCC’s NIZ while 13 regional impact zones were also identified.

This year’s symposium theme is “Facing the Challenges of 4th Industrial Revolution (4IR) Through Extension and Advisory Services”.

Bohol Governor Arthur Yap emphasized that the proper delivery of extension work can add 32-35% increase in the production aspect of agriculture.

“The 4th industrial revolution is a fusion of technologies characterized by physical, digital and biological spheres, which can be disruptive. The challenge now is how to apply 4IR technologies to the farm sector,” he added.

The symposium aimed to (1) explain challenges and opportunities on 4IR, (2) share innovations and initiatives of good extension and advisory service practices, and (3) identify measures for capacity development and knowledge management in anticipation of the 4IR challenges and opportunities.

“As extension professionals and practitioners, we have to be prepared and equipped to help ensure that 4IR will not make the rich, richer and the poor, poorer. We need to adapt well to this reality in the name of service especially to those who have less in life,” PhilEASNet President Karen Eloisa Barroga stated on the message she wrote for the event.

A total of 45 papers were presented. The said papers delved in various subthemes such as Innovations in Knowledge Management, Novel Capacity Building Initiatives, Trailblazing Extension Interventions, Developing Sustainable Community Livelihoods, Extension and Public Service of HEI, and Extension, and Public Service of HEI.

Conversations on the 4IR applications in the fields of rice, livestock, vegetable, forestry, and land resources were also conducted with invited resource speakers.

This year’s outstanding extension practitioner is Elmer Sayre, executive director of WAND Foundation. In the extension category, “HILING program: An Extension Innovation of Agricultural Training Institute-Region IV-A” was hailed as this year’s outstanding extension project. Meanwhile, under the same category, the outstanding research paper award was won by the paper entitled “Stimulating the Entrepreneurial Prowess of Women Farmers in Macarse, Zaragoza, Nueva Ecija”.

Dr. Eric Palacpac, PhilEASNet’s vice president for Luzon and PCC’s Knowledge Management Division chief, awarded the certificates.

The keynote speakers of the symposium were Dr. Glenn Gregorio, director, Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture, and Dr. Aniceto Orbeta, Jr., senior research fellow, Philippine Institute for Development Studies.

Also present in the event was Tagbilaran City Mayor John Gessnell Yap who expressed his support on conduct of the symposium.

More than 200 participants from select government agencies, universities, and other institutions engaged in extension work participated in the event.

Thirty-two participants composed of Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNS) and Barangay Health Workers (BHW) from Don Carlos, with walk-in partakers from Valencia City and Malaybalay City, all in Bukidnon, successfully completed the three-day training on milk handling, processing and marketing held at the Regional Training Center, Philippine Carabao Center at Central Mindanao University (PCC@CMU), Musuan, Bukidnon last September 17-19.

The training was a collaborative effort between PCC@CMU, Abellanosa Learning Sites and Agricultural Training Institute (ATI), which aimed at capacitating the participants on the proper milk collection and handling; milk processing procedures for various milk products; and techniques on how to market the products.

According to Dr. Elena Paraguas, PCC@CMUs training specialist III, the selected participants from different municipalities were trained to prepare themselves for the upcoming school milk feeding program to ensure the quality and safety of the milk to be distributed in the area.

“This training will also serve as the venue for them [participants] to appreciate the value-adding potentials in milk products, which are excellent sources of additional income,” Dr. Paraguas added.

Julikah Jan Nortega, Processing and Marketing Outlet’s (PMO) quality assurance officer, stressed the importance of food safety and quality of milk from production to marketing during her lecture.

“The main point or importance of this lecture is for you to learn about proper food handling and food sanitation in order to ensure that food delivered to customers are safe from food borne illnesses. One way to achieve this end is to maintain the cleanliness of the area and food handler,” she emphasized.

After the series of lectures on the first day, the participants experienced the kitchen-type processing of milk on the following days.  Each group processed choco milk, white cheese and pastillas as their finished products.

Apart from processing, the participants also learned milk quality testing, maintenance of milk quality during milk handling, production, processing and marketing.

“I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you to PCC@CMU and ATI for their efforts to organize this training. For me, this training is the best because it’s free and we gained new technologies to explore,” Hector Rule, one of the participants, expressed.

“The new law institutionalizing a national feeding program for undernourished Filipino children in public schools has created a higher demand for locally produced milk, thus, providing livelihood opportunities for dairy farmers and boosting the local dairy industry.”

This was underscored by Philippine Carabao Center’s (PCC) Executive Director Dr. Arnel Del Barrio during the celebration of the 13^th Gatas ng Kalabaw Festival last October 8 in General M. Natividad, Nueva Ecija, which coincided with the 100^th day in service of the town’s newly elected Mayor Anita Arocena.

“There is a ready local market for milk, as there is already a budget for that. What we lack is enough supply of milk. We are seeking for your (dairy farmers) help not just to double but to triple your milk production. Help us collect, process, and feed milk to Filipino children,” he added.

President Rodrigo Duterte signed Masustansyang Pagkain para sa Batang Pilipino Act or Republic Act 11037 last June 2018 to address the problem of undernutrition among Filipino children (aged 3-12 years old) in day care centers, kindergarten, and elementary.

Under the law, the government shall provide a supplemental feeding program for day care children, which will be implemented by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and local government units (LGUs); a school-based feeding program for public school children from kinder to Grade 6, to be implemented by the Department of Education (DepEd); and a milk feeding program, wherein fresh milk is one of the components in the fortified meals and cycle menu. This will include the provision of at least 100 ml of locally produced fresh milk to undernourished children and will be done in coordination with PCC, National Dairy Authority (NDA), and the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA).

Dr. Del Barrio stressed the need to scale up local milk production, as milk demand rises in line with the national feeding program. He also cited the significant roles and contributions of dairy farmers in meeting this challenge.

“According to DSWD and DepEd, we will be needing at least 600,000 liters of milk daily to support the milk feeding program for undernourished children across the country. The DepEd has Php1 billion budget for the feeding program this year. They (DSWD and DepEd) will even allocate higher budget for the said program next year. Hence, dairy farmers are urged to gear up for this challenge and opportunity,” he averred.

“Gradually, we, at PCC, NDA, and CDA, together with LGUs, will have a campaign in all municipalities to convince farmers to increase milk production and encourage more farmers to engage in dairying,” he added.

Dr. Del Barrio also mentioned about the twin goals of the Department of Agriculture: “Masaganang Ani at Mataas na Kita”, which is aligned with the slogan of this year’s host of Gatas ng Kalabaw Festival – General M. Natividad: “Angat Nativideño, Isulong Natin ang Tagumpay at Asensong Para sa Lahat”.

The annual Gatas ng Kalabaw Festival, in partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), is one way of promoting carabao’s milk not only for its economic benefits but also for its important contributions to the health and nutrition of smallholder dairy farmers and their families as well as milk consumers in general.

It is made possible through a technical working group participated in by DTI, PCC, Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), DA as well as the provincial and local government units.

The highlight of the celebration was the symbolic “tagay-pugay (toast of salutation)”, a simultaneous milk toasting and drinking featuring day care students and representatives from partner private institutions and government agencies. It accentuated the significance of multi-sectoral efforts in the increased programs of the local dairy industry in Nueva Ecija.

Meanwhile, Mayor Arocena extended her gratitude to the PCC, DTI, DAR and other agencies and government units that are supporting this kind of endeavor to develop and strengthen the local dairy industry for the benefit of local dairy farmers in her town and in the whole province.

The PCC, on the other hand, was recognized by the DTI as its most outstanding partner agency for the “promotion and development of dairy cooperatives and of the whole dairy industry cluster in Nueva Ecija”.

After the program, a kick off activity of milk feeding program was conducted involving 400 elementary students at General Natividad Central School. The milk was provided by the Nueva Ecija Federation of Dairy Carabao Cooperatives (NEFEDCCO).

Other activities included in the celebration were micro, small, medium enterprise (MSME) trade fair, presentation of accomplishments of Mayor Arocena’s 1^st 100 days in service, raffle draw, intermission numbers performed by high school students in General Natividad and a community dance number with PCC mascots “Kalaboy” and “Kalagirl”.

The festival and the celebration of 1^st 100 days in service of Mayor Arocena was attended by 800 stakeholders from the private sector, LGUs, government agencies, students, teachers, dairy farmers, and others.