P2.3-M Dairy Buffalo Project Launched in Dingras to Boost Nutrition, Livelihoods
Dingras – Milk production in the farming village of San Marcelino is set to rise after 29 female dairy buffaloes were turned over to a local farmers’ group as part of a livelihood and nutrition initiative.
The Philippine Carabao Center (PCC) in Batac City led the distribution, with the animals valued at around PHP2.3 million. The beneficiaries are members of the Timpuyog de San Marcelino Sustainable Livelihood Program Association Inc..
According to PCC Director Joel Cabading, the program aims to increase the supply of carabao milk and related products while helping address malnutrition and strengthen food security in the province.
He explained that the turnover operates under a “social contract,” requiring the association to maintain the original herd and expand it through breeding.
Before receiving the animals, members underwent training in dairy buffalo management provided by the PCC in partnership with Mariano Marcos State University.
The initiative forms part of the government’s broader effort to promote the carabao as a vital source of milk, meat, draft power, and hide, while creating sustainable livelihood opportunities in rural communities.
Under the program, the PCC will continue to extend technical guidance and marketing support to ensure the project’s long-term viability.
Mayor Joemelle Go Sy described the project as a strategic investment that will generate income and improve community nutrition. He also reaffirmed the local government’s commitment to sustaining the initiative.
The association’s president, Edelberto Reyes Jr., shared that a similar program previously helped him improve his family’s living conditions, including building a home from dairy earnings.
The group, composed of current and former beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), was recently recognized as one of the country’s top microenterprises during the 2025 Gawad Sulong–Yabong Awards.
Farmers expressed appreciation to the PCC, the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Social Welfare and Development, and the local government for their continued support in strengthening rural livelihoods.
NPO News Team | Philippine News Agency - PR
