Establishes stock farms, proper training, and more efficient market linkages
Philippines recognized the importance of dairy farmers, cooperatives, and industry stakeholders, calling them the backbone of the sector during the recent occasion of 2025 World Milk Day. He emphasized the Department’s aim to empower the farmers and help them evolve into agripreneurs with profitable and sustainable livelihoods.
The Department of Agriculture through its attached corporation, the National Dairy Authority (DA-NDA) organized a dairy fair on May 30. Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. emphasized the Department’s goal of empowering farmers and helping them become agripreneurs with profit-making and sustainable enterprises.
“The Marcos administration remains committed to transforming Philippine agriculture into a more modern, competitive, and sustainable engine for growth,” Sec. Tiu Laurel said.
He stressed the dairy industry’s role in this transformation, noting the national target of reaching five percent milk sufficiency by 2028. He also announced progress in this effort, with DA-NDA nearing 2% sufficiency this year—up from just 1% in the past.
“Through the DA-NDA and DA-Philippine Carabao Center, we’re investing in the increase of our herd, the establishment of stock farms, proper training, and more efficient market linkages to ensure that milk reaches every Filipino household,” Sec. Tiu Laurel said.
DA-NDA Administrator Andaya expressed confidence in meeting the DA’s sufficiency goal. He shared recent milestones, stating that this year’s celebration is timely, given the industry’s continued growth.
“Based on the latest data from the Philippine Statistics Authority, we recorded 9.8 million liters of milk production in the first quarter of 2025—an 11% increase compared to the same period last year. Our herd inventory also grew by 2.9%, from 145,000 to 158,000 head, including cattle from PCC, NDA, and cooperatives. In our milk feeding program, which we implement with DepEd and DSWD, we reached nearly 350,000 students from January to February 2025,” Andaya said.
Meanwhile, Mayor Joy Belmonte reaffirmed Quezon City’s support for the DA’s efforts to strengthen the local dairy sector. She highlighted the city’s commitment to ensuring proper nutrition for children, recognizing that adequate nourishment enables them to study well and achieve their dreams.
Mayor Belmonte also highlighted local efforts to promote healthy eating habits, including the implementation of Quezon City Ordinance SP-2579, S-2017, which prohibits the sale and promotion of junk food and sugary drinks within 100 meters of schools. She added that the city is also promoting milk serving in school canteens.
World Milk Day is observed annually on June 1 to recognize the dairy sector’s contributions to sustainable agriculture, economic development, and global health.
