By Kenneth Marcos 
Early morning mist hung over dairy farms in Batangas as cows were milked and workers prepared for the day. For local dairy farmers, every liter of milk matters. It means income, stability, and hope that Philippine-made dairy products can finally compete on a larger scale.
On January 27, National Dairy Authority (NDA) Administrator Atty. Marcus Antonius T. Andaya joined officials of ABI Pascual Foods Corporation for a series of benchmarking, plant, and farm visits in Southern Luzon. The activity was part of the NDA’s continuing partnership with the private sector to strengthen the country’s local dairy industry.
The delegation from ABI Pascual Foods was led by Managing Director Javier Palomino, Chief Financial Officer Enrique Martinez, and Senior Brand Manager Genevieve Lim. The group visited Aces Philproducers Corporation in Ibaan, Batangas, a dairy cooperative supported by the NDA. The visit aimed to assess the capacity of local dairy cooperatives as Pascual Foods plans to increase the use of locally produced milk for its yogurt products and expand its operations in the Philippines.
During the visit, Atty. Andaya shared key provisions of Republic Act No. 12308, which strengthened the mandate of the NDA. He explained the agency’s regulatory functions, the transfer of funding for the Milk Feeding Program from the Department of Education, and the importance of the Private Sector Funded Milk Feeding Program. These measures, he said, are designed to improve nutrition for Filipino children while creating a stable market for local milk producers.
Officials of Aces Philproducers Corporation welcomed the delegation, led by Chairperson MGen. Gilbert S. Llanto, AFP (Ret). Members of the cooperative’s board were also present, including Vice Chairman MGen. Jovito Gammad, AFP (Ret), Director Col. Gregoire P. Gagarra, PAF (Ret), Director MGen. Marcelino Randy Tibayan, AFP (Ret), and Director Capt. Daniel M. Agudo. Cooperative leaders shared their experiences in milk production and discussed challenges such as feed costs, infrastructure needs, and maintaining quality standards.
After the Batangas visit, the NDA and ABI Pascual Foods officials proceeded to Calauan, Laguna to visit the processing plant of the Katipunan ng mga Kooperatibang Maggagatas Integrated Cooperative (KKMI). They were received by Plant Manager Baltazar V. Montiel, who presented the cooperative’s milk processing capacity and quality control systems.
NDA officials said these visits show how collaboration between government, cooperatives, and private companies can help grow the local dairy sector. The Philippines still relies heavily on imported milk, but demand for fresh and processed dairy products continues to rise. Strengthening local production can help reduce imports, support rural jobs, and improve farmer incomes.
For dairy farmers, partnerships with large food companies provide a more stable market and fairer prices. For companies like Pascual Foods, sourcing local milk helps ensure supply, support Filipino farmers, and meet consumer demand for locally produced food.
Atty. Andaya said building trust and transparency between cooperatives and private buyers is key to long-term success. He emphasized that government support, combined with private sector investment, can turn the local dairy industry into a stronger contributor to food security and economic growth.
As visits like these continue, stakeholders hope that more Philippine-made dairy products will soon reach store shelves—benefiting farmers, companies, and Filipino consumers alike.
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