Acting Agrarian Reform Sec. Bernie Cruz (right) with Mayor Allan Xyztus Gamilla (left) at the turnover of the dairy processing facility. Photo by Armand Galang
BONGABON, Nueva Ecija – Acting Agrarian Reform Secretary Bernie Cruz led the turnover of a processing facility for dairy milk to a farmers’ organization in Barangay Pesa here on Thursday.
The facility that qualifies Bongabon Dairy Cooperative (BDC) to further support from the National Dairy Authority (NDA) was constructed in a 62.5 square meters area within the cooperative’s 144 sqm lot through collaboration of several government agencies, according to Cruz.
The Bongabon local government led by Mayor Allan Xystus Gamilla provided P500,000 on top of DAR’s P300,000, the record showed.
To further equip farmers who were mostly agrarian reform beneficiaries, technical, training and extension assistance were extended by the Department of Trade and Industry, Philippine Carabao Center (PCC) of the Department of Agriculture, and the Department of Science and Technology- Region 3.
Created in 2016, the BDC can now produce toned milk, choco milk, and pastillas, said its chairman Romeo dela Cruz. He added that they now have over 100 milking carabaos.
Gamilla said that government agencies also provide market and linkages to BDC. “Tutulungan na rin sila ng PCC sa paggawa ng milkybun,” he said referring to the dairy-fortified bread for school feeding program.
Gamilla lauded the farmers for withstanding crises, including the coronavirus disease pandemic.
