The National Dairy Authority (NDA) strengthens its presence in Western Visayas as part of a broader goal of promoting the domestic dairy industry.
NDA administrator Gabriel Lagamayo earlier signed a memorandum of agreement with New Lucena Mayor Liecel Mondejar-Seville for collaboration on improving the towns capacity to produce fresh milk.
“As mentioned by the Mayor, she anticipates tasting milk produced right here in New Lucena. There will be no other producers here but our farmers, as they are the primary beneficiaries of our animal distribution programs,” Lagamayo said.
Under the accord, the DA will establish the Western Visayas regional office, laboratory, dairy showroom, dairy demo farm, and the country’s first feed center, in a three-hectare property provided by the town.
New Lucena is a fourth class municipality in Iloilo province.
The Sangguniang Bayan agriculture and cooperative committee fully supports the agreement that will help upgrade New Lucena’s livestock industry.
Seville noted how NDA and her town will mutually benefit from the project.
“We’re so glad this has materialized. We’re looking forward to NDA’s fresh milk here in New Lucena. Instead of buying processed milk, we can now taste first class and fresh milk for our children. A big benefit to the community, especially to our children and malnourished children,” she added.
NDA has earmarked P40 million for the New Lucena project to set up innovative dairy techniques and enforce farm management practices at the New Lucena site, including the establishment of feed centers to ensure optimal nutrition for dairy cattle and increased output.
Citing the significant untapped potential of milk production in the province of Iloilo, Lagamayo is hopeful that New Lucena farmers will embrace new technologies and knowledge to boost output.
The NDA aims to achieve a modest five percent sufficiency in milk or about 80 million liters by 2028 and expand NDA’s regional coverage over the next four years.
