The high-breed dairy cows in Mount Campana in Mambajao town, Camiguin Province, that produce fresh milk for school children, a program initiated by the provincial government. (Photo By Ercel Maandig)
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY -- The provincial government of Camiguin is advancing its milk feeding program, producing some 2,863 liters monthly, the National Dairy Authority (NDA) in Region 10 (Northern Mindanao) said.
NDA-10 spokesperson Debbie de San Miguel said the province started its dairy production in 2016, an initiative of then Governor Jesus Jardin Romualdo, who is now the mayor in the town of Mambajao.
This year, the provincial government headed by Governor Ma. Luisa Romualdo continued its Milk Feeding Program to School Children in the island for 120 days starting last August. At least 75 elementary pupils are regularly given milk, while the excess production is sold in the local market for the livelihood of dairy cooperatives.
"The province's dairy farm is located at Mount Campana in Mambajao town that houses 76 heads of high breed cows from its original number of 25, which was loaned from NDA at around PHP140,000 each, in order to meet both livelihood and nutritional needs of the people of Camiguin," de San Miguel said.
In May 2017, the province hosted, for the first time, the 20th National Dairy Congress, which was participated in by dairy cooperatives and stakeholders nationwide.
With the forthcoming implementation of the Dairy Safety Regulations (DSR), the NDA, as a duly mandated Food Safety Regulatory Agency (FSRA) by virtue of the Food Safety Act of 2013, is intensifying efforts in reaching out and informing the dairy stakeholders about milk safety concerns.
The Philippine dairy industry is earning about PHP100 billion annually, and imports about USD800 million worth of dairy products a year with local producers only supplying one percent of the demand.
Dairy is the third most imported agricultural product in the country, and 85 percent of what the country imports is in powder form. The powder is then processed into liquid form before it is shipped for local consumption, according to the NDA report during last year's convention in Camiguin.
Aside from Camiguin, among the most successful dairy production in Northern Mindanao is in Misamis Oriental, particularly by the local government unit of Claveria, and the Northern Mindanao Federation of Dairy Cooperative's Highland Fresh Brand in El Salvador City. (PNA)
