As part of the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) mandate to regularly monitor its implemented programs and projects, Secretary William Dar led a site visit to inspect a dairy multiplier farm enterprise owned by small dairy farmers in Sariaya, Quezon. This enterprise is assisted by the DA – Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP) under its enterprise development component or I-REAP.

Accompanied by the enterprise’s proponent group, the Palcon Dairy Multipurpose Cooperative, Secretary Dar checked the interventions provided aimed at helping the cooperative increase its milk production and animal herds. Some of these are dairy animals, cow sheds, milking parlors, milking machines, milk cans, choppers, etc. As reported by the cooperative, all of these are properly utilized and have been of great help to them in making their production operations more efficient and fruitful.

Secretary Dar also asked the members on how the cooperative dealt with the challenges brought by the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the members, the cooperative’s sales plummeted since some of their buyers temporarily halted their regular orders. This decline resulted in the spoilage of their products and a significant decrease in their income. With the help of the DA-PRDP, the group was able to get back on its feet towards recovery.

As observed by the DA-PRDP Regional Project Coordination Office (RPCO) CALABARZON, the group’s production volume is starting to improve as a result of the interventions provided. Sales of the cooperative are also looking up since their buyers are starting to order from them again.

Secretary Dar advised that the cooperative must continue its good practices to sustain its production and marketing and further develop the enterprise. He suggested that strengthening biosafety measures in the dairy farm will be helpful for the cooperative to maintain the good health of its animals and the quality of their milk.

The DA-PRDP implemented the enterprise subproject in 2018 with a total funding of PhP19,913,408.64. The subproject aims to strengthen and develop the existing enterprise toward its development, the growth of the local dairy milk industry, and improvement in the lives of the dairy farmers managing it.

Also present in the activity are DA Assistant Secretary for Operations and DA Regional Field Office (RFO) IV-A Regional Executive Director Arnel de Mesa, Assistant Secretary for Strategic Communications Noel Reyes, DA RFO IV-A Regional Technical Director for Research and Regulations Marcos Aves, Sr., DA-PRDP RPCO CALABARZON Deputy Project Director and DA RFO IV-A Field Operations Chief Redelliza Gruezo, DA RFO IV-A Livestock Program Head Dr. Jerome Cuasay, Dr. Flomella Caguicla from the provincial veterinary office of Quezon, and staff from the DA-PRDP RPCO CALABARZON and the local government of Sariaya, Quezon.