The first one-stop shop for carabao-based delicacies and other dairy products dubbed as the Dairy Box was recently launched in the province of Guimaras.
A brainchild of the Department of Agriculture-Philippine Carabao Center (PCC), the P10 million infrastructure project is the fourth of its kind in the Panay-Guimaras area currently managed by the Guimaras Employees Multi-purpose Cooperative (GEMPC).
Senator Cynthia Villar, Senate Committee Chairperson on Food and Agriculture, allocated a budget for the construction of the facility which started last July 8, 2022.
“Ang dairy box na ito ay magiging daan para maipaabot sa mga tao ang locally produced dairy products ng ating mga dairy farmers (The dairy box is an avenue to convey to the public the locally-produced dairy products of the farmers),” Villar said in a video message.
Meanwhile, PCC Officer-in-Charge for Socio-Economics and Policy Section Estella Valiente thanked Guimarasnon farmers who took the challenge to take care of the buffaloes entrusted to them to produce milk.
Valiente hoped that this project could pave the way for job generation in the community.
She also cited the Carabao-based Business Improvement Network (CBIN) project of the PCC which aims to establish a robust and sustainable carabao-based enterprise value-chain in the province.
GEMPC was also assured of the DA’s support through its programs that extend the market access of agri-fishery farmers’ products.
For his part, Provincial Agriculturist Alvin Nava shared the provincial government’s plan to construct 19 milking chutes for the farmer beneficiaries.
The project is a big boost to the economic agenda of Governor JC Rahman Nava dubbed as “Kabataan FIRST”.
Further, this is one of the pillars of the economic policy of the present administration focusing on tourism, trade, investment, and employment.AAL/LMLE/PIA Iloilo/Guimaras PIO
Photos by Janice Hurtada-Cuaresma
