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1. How will you address the inadequate number of dairy stocks?
THE INADEQUATE NUMBER OF DAIRY STOCKS WILL BE ADDRESSED THROUGH THE ACCELERATED IMPLEMENTATION OF OUR HERD BUILD-UP PROGRAM, SPECIFICALLY THROUGH:
1. Massive importation of genetic materials (target of 10,000 dairy animals and 40,000 breeding materials from 2010-2016). Note: As of to date, the total number of imported animals reached 6,725 heads equivalent to 55% of the target; while more than 102,600 semen straws were bought.
2. Intensify the upgrading and Artificial Insemination (AI) Programs in cooperation with Local Government Units (LGUs), UNAIP and other dairy partners.Note: The upgrading and breeding programs/efforts have already upgraded/inseminated around 77,300 heads.
3. Vigorous promotion and establishment of breeder/multiplier farms and calf rearing operations to ensure the production of local quality dairy animals. Note: There are now 95 dairy multiplier farms operating in the country in partnership with NDA in the production of local dairy cattle using the imported animals as base stocks.
4. Production of semen straws from locally produced genetically superior dairy breed. Note: There are now 58,000 dairy semen straws locally produced from DTRI (8,000) & NABC (50,000). Efforts to expand the dairy animal population paid-off as total national dairy animals grew by 59%. (from 35,000 heads in 2010 to 55,776 heads as of December 2016).
5. Spearheading the production of local dairy animals through the Dairy Genetic Improvement Program such as the embryo transfer technology, artificial insemination through regular breeding and the use of sexed semen.
2. How can you make credit available and accessible to dairy farmers?
WE SHALL WORK CLOSELY WITH GFIs:
1. Has partnered with Land Bank of the Philippines in setting up the MILK Credit Program (Last 13 December 2013 the MILK Credit was publicly launched. Within the month of the program launch, a total of P3.5 million was approved under the Program.
2. Has partnered with DBP in setting up the Sustainable Agribusiness Financing Program for the Dairy Industry (SAFP-DAIRY).
3. Will enjoin local dairy cooperatives and their respective LGUs to declare dairy as OTOP in their respective areas.
4. Has worked for the approval of NDA DAIRY ANIMAL DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM - UNIFIED STANDARD PAYMENT-IN-KIND SCHEME, or 1:1 Scheme whereby the NDA lends to eligible dairy farm operators dairy animals, each payable in four (4) years. Payment shall generally be in-kind, consisting of one (1) similar dairy animal for every animal (1:1) delivered by the NDA and received by the dairy farm operator. (per Board Resolution #680 approved November 8, 2016).
3. How will you lessen the threat to the local milk industry against the influx of cheap imported milk products?
THE THREAT OF CHEAP IMPORTED MILK PRODUCTS TO THE LOCAL MILK INDUSTRY WILL BE LESSENED THROUGH STRONG ADVOCACY/PROMOTION AND PATRONAGEOF LOCAL MILK THROUGH:
1. Ensuring the compliance of the Dairy Safety Regulation Standards by the dairy farmers and all stakeholders involved in milk production and post harvest activities. Includes the conduct of dairy farm and plant registration and audit.
2. Ensuring the adoption of safety standard protocols such as good animal practices, good farm and manufacturing practices, HACCP, etc.
3. Promotion of the OPM (Original Pilipino Milk) which emphasizes milk quality and safety standards that are comparable to FDA standards.
4. Collaboration with the BUY LOCAL Campaign of the government. 5. Promotion of the Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) in dairy business operation.
4.How will you address the high cost of inputs?
THE HIGH COST OF INPUTS WILL BE ADDRESSED THROUGH REDUCED FEEDS EXPENSE WHICH CONSTITUTES 50-70% OF THE DAIRY PRODUCTION COST. THIS CAN BE DONE THROUGH: 1. Feed Reformulation for dairy animals in order to produce quality dairy ration that will increase milk production and weight of animals. 2. Vigorous promotion of pasture establishment using forage legumes and trees. (propagation and distribution of planting materials produced by our Ubay Seed Farm). 3. Feed formulation using food industry wastes and leguminous fodder trees and shrubs to cut on feed expense. 4. The Corn-Based Animal Feeds project, which aims to make feeds available to dairy animals at all times even during unpredictable weather conditions, promotes corn silage making that will create sources of quality feeds for dairy animals. 5. Total Mixed Ratio (TMR) production, pelletized feeds production, biogas digester, vermi- culture-composting among others.
As of to date, there are 27 dairy zones throughout the country in the following locations:
Luzon: Laguna, Batangas, Quezon, Rizal, Cavite, Camarines Sur, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pangasinan and
Isabela
Visayas: Cebu, Negros Occidental, Iloilo, Negros Oriental, Bohol, Aklan and Leyte
Mindanao: Davao City, Bukidnon, Davao del Norte, Misamis Oriental, Lanao del Norte, Davao del Sur, North
Cotabato, Sarangani, Davao Oriental and Compostela Valley.
Local government units investing in their own local milk production capacity has been active. Local officials
have seen the value of the industry for their own farmers and their children.
5.What is your role on the Food Safety Act of 2013? What safety measures have you done to ensure the safety of milk and milk products?
The National Dairy Authority, by virtue of RA 10611 otherwise known as the Food Safety Act of 2013 and its IRR’s, is one of the duly mandated Food Safety Regulatory Agencies. The NDA’s jurisdiction includes milk production and post harvest handling.
In view of that, the Dairy Food Regulations was drafted last 04 September 2015. The creation of the dairy regulations is one of the accomplishments with regards to Food Safety. Accordingly, the Dairy Codes ofPractice, Risk Management Plan Template and Audit Checklist for Dairy Farm, Milk Collection Centers, andDairy Processing Plants were also established.
Island-wide consultations on the said regulations were conducted from September to October 2015
participated by a total of 371 participants. The National Dairy Authority also conducted capacity building (trainings) from May to August 2016 for its
employees, especially for technical and field personnel of the regional offices. Topics covered were Good Manufacturing Practices, Basic Food Traceability, Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures, Establishment of a Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) Plan and Verification and Audit of a HACCP Plan. The activities aimed to better equip employees with knowledge and experience in Food Safety so they can better perform in their assigned task. Knowledge and information gained in these activities will be cascaded to the stakeholders of the different regional offices for the improvement of local milk quality and safety.
Out of 359 dairy farms assisted by NDA, 70% (or 248 farms) were pre-assessed as to the readiness/compliance with good farming practices, milk handling practices and the likes. The receptiveness of the dairy farm operators to comply with the safety regulations was quite remarkable.