“Pagbutihin ang pag-aaral para matutunan ninyo paano gawin [nang ligtas] ang mga produktong gawa sa gatas ng kalabaw. Mas lalaki ang kita ng kooperatiba at ng ating mga farmers sa processed dairy products.”

Sen. Cynthia A. Villar, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food, and Agrarian Reform, said this during the opening program of the Training on Milk Processing and Post-handling held on September 11-13, 2024 at the Villar SIPAG Farm School, Bacoor, Cavite.

She further encouraged trainees to utilize their newly acquired knowledge and skills in milk processing and post-handling to lead their respective cooperatives and provinces in alleviating poverty and boosting livelihood opportunities.

Sen. Villar stressed the need to facilitate such learning events for farmers to improve their livelihood opportunities. “The country’s food security and agricultural sustainability are crucial,” she added.

The three-day training was a collaborative initiative of the DA-Agricultural Training Institute-CALABARZON (DA-ATI-CALABARZON), DA-Philippine Carabao Center at the University of the Philippines Los Baños (DA-PCC at UPLB) and Villar Social Institute for Poverty Alleviation and Governance (SIPAG) Farm School. It aimed to enhance the basic skills and knowledge in milk processing and post-handling practices of DA-PCC-assisted cooperatives.

Twenty-nine participants learned about Food Safety and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), Proper Handling of Milk and Milk by-products, Milk Quality Testing, Processing of Fresh Milk, Choco Milk, White Cheese, and Pastillas.

Dr. Thelma A. Saludes, Agricultural Center Chief IV of DA-PCC at UPLB, emphasized the importance of adhering to proper milk processing and post-handling practices to ensure the safety and quality of milk products supplied particularly for the beneficiaries of the Department of Education’s (DepEd) and Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)’s annual milk feeding program.

“Wala pong shortcut ang quality. Ang DA-PCC po ay nandito upang ibahagi ang wastong pagpoproseso ng gatas at iba pang dairy products para mapanatili ang magandang kalidad. Lalo na sa mga engaged sa Milk Feeding Program, maging diligent in every step na naturo sa inyo para sa quality na end product,” she stated.

Dr. Rolando V. Maningas, Training Center Superintendent II of the DA-ATI CALABARZON, expressed his hope that the trainees and their cooperatives would be one with the DA’s vision of “Masaganang Ani, Mataas na Kita” for a food-secure Philippines and prosperous farmers.

“Ang tapos [ng training na ito] ay ang simula. ‘Wag tumigil sa pag-explore ng mga kakayahan dahil hindi imposible ang tagumpay. Malaki ang demand sa lokal na supply ng gatas kaya hindi kami tumitigil [kasama ang DA-PCC at DA-Philippine Coconut Authority (DA-PCA)] para mapalawak ang mga ganitong activities,” Dr. Maningas said.

DA-PCA-IV Regional Manager Bibiano C. Concibido Jr. highlighted the carabao’s role in improving the livelihoods of coconut farmers.

“Carabao is one of the programs of PCA with PCC na epektibo sa pagpapataas ng antas ng pamumuhay ng mga magniniyog. Ito pong paggagatas ang may konkretong pag-angat ng kita dahil araw-araw mayroong kita,” he added.

The said training also supports DA-PCC-assisted cooperatives in complying with the Food Safety Act of 2013 (RA 10611) and the Masustansyang Pagkain para sa Batang Pilipino Act of 2018 (RA 11037).