First dairy processing center to rise in Apayao

GROUNDBREAKING -- Officials of the Provincial Government of Apayao and Philippine Carabao Center attend groundbreaking ceremony for a dairy processing facility in Luna town in Apayao Monday, June 26. The facility will house modern equipment and facilities necessary for milk collection, processing, packaging and distribution. (Photo courtesy of the Provincial Government of Apayao)

By Leilanie Adriano 

LUNA, Apayao -- A pioneering hub for the production and processing of dairy products will soon rise in Apayao province.
    Located at the Apayao Eco-Tourism and Sports Complex in here in Barangay San Gregorio, the facility aims to support growing dairy farming industry in Apayao and enhance the livelihood of local farmers.
    “Apayao really needs to have a dairy processing facility to regulate our dairy products. Our constituents really need it to sustain our livelihood programs. And it’s so nice to dream that someday, Apayao will produce high-quality milk, cheese, and even yogurt,” said Apayao Rep. Eleanor Bulut-Begtang in a statement on Tuesday.
    As one of the country's pilot sites for the Carabao-Based Business Improvement Network (CBIN),     Apayao received an initial P10 million worth of assistance from the office of Senator Cynthia Villar in 2022 for the initial construction of a dairy box, along with the provision of 71 heads of dairy carabaos, two motorcycles, equipment, capability building training and other technical support services to facilitate production, processing, and marketing of dairy products.
    As a counterpart, the local government unit provided a forage area and housing requirements.
    Once operational, the dairy facility is expected to streamline the production and processing of dairy products, ensuring that high-quality standards are met.
    It will also house modern equipment and facilities necessary for milk collection, processing, packaging, and distribution.
    By centralizing these operations, the facility will optimize efficiency and reduce costs, ultimately benefiting both the producers and consumers.
    In addition, the project aims to address the challenges faced by local farmers by providing training and technical assistance.
    In partnership with the Philippine Carabao Center, local farmers will undergo basic skills training on carabao management, feeding, and breeding, as well as increasing milk production and improving the overall quality of their herds.
    Following the conduct of a groundbreaking ceremony on June 26, PCC Region 2 Regional Director Rovina Piñera expressed her gratitude to the Apayao government officials who pursued the project.
    “It’s so nice to work with the Apayao government. All transactions went smoothly and there is no politics involved. I hope that someday, Apayao will become the best CBIN site in the northern region,” said Piñera in an interview Tuesday as she vowed the PCC’s all-out support for the project.
    Earlier this month, at least 40 eligible farmers started attending a seven-month Farmer Livestock School on Large Ruminant Production with PHP3 million in funding from the provincial government.
Apayao is among the top raisers of buffalo in the Cordillera Region with 18,175 heads as of July 2022 based on the latest livestock survey of the Philippine Statistics Authority. -- PNA