Gemma Chavez
Board of Directors
Palcon Dairy Multipurpose Cooperative
Sariaya, Quezon

Gemma Chavez, a dairy farmer from Sariaya, Quezon, started her journey over 20 years ago as an office worker. Inspired by a success story of a dairy farmer, she took a leap of faith by venturing to dairy farming, hoping to provide for her family. Initially juggling her new career with office work, Gemma learned the ropes of dairy farming, often facing injuries and sacrifices. She joined the Palcon Dairy Multipurpose Cooperative in 1997, where she gained valuable knowledge and forged partnerships with government agencies for support.

In 2008, Gemma left her office job to focus on her farm, eventually earning a professional certificate in cooperative management while balancing her responsibilities. Her hard work paid off in 2011 when she was named Outstanding Dairy Farmer by the National Dairy Authority. Despite competing against larger farms, her small farm had a higher return on investment due to her efficient management.

Gemma also rose through the ranks in her cooperative, becoming general manager from 2016 to 2025. During her tenure, she helped expand the cooperative through a partnership with the Department of Agriculture – Philippine Rural Development Project. Despite challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic, the cooperative thrived under her leadership.

Gemma’s dedication transformed her life, allowing her to buy land, build a home, support her sibling’s education, and start planting crops. She also offers free internships to students. As a woman in a male-dominated industry, Gemma proved that success in dairy farming—and life—depends on grit, commitment, and sacrifice, not gender.

In January, Gemma stepped down as general manager to spend more time with her family but continues to grow her dairy business, aiming to pass it down through generations.