Month: October 2021

Ready-to-consume dairy carabao products are now officially available to the public 24/7 following the launching of a oneSTore.ph vending machine of the Department of Agriculture-Philippine Carabao Center (DA-PCC) on October 27.

Located beside the entrance of the Milka Krem outlet in the Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija, the automated machine aims to promote the produce of local dairy farmers and make them conveniently and easily accessible to a wider range of consumers.

It was made possible through the DA-PCC’s partnership with the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic, and Natural Resources Research and Development thru its oneSTore.ph project; and Central Luzon State University-Central Luzon Agriculture and Resources Research and Development Consortium.

Marivic Orge, DA-PCC’s Central Dairy Collecting and Processing Facility Plant Manager, demonstrated the how-tos of operating the vending machine and underscored its importance as a new marketing scheme in this time of pandemic.

“This will be useful for our ‘kababayans’ who want to patronize our dairy farmers’ products but are unable to at times when the Milka Krem store is already closed. It offers fast service and prime location to ensure that you can still enjoy dairy products any time at your convenience,” Orge said.

She also assured the customers that the products in the vending machine are always fresh as they replace them with new stocks every three days to avoid spoilage.

Specifically, among the products available include pasteurized milk, chocomilk, rice milk, yogurt, pastillas, polvoron, and milkaroons.

Also present during the launching were DA-PCC Deputy Executive Director for Admin. and Finance Dr. Caro Salces, Deputy Executive Director for Production and Research Dr. Claro Mingala, Carabao-Based Enterprise Development Section Officer-in-Charge Joel Cabading, and former DA-PCC Executive Director Dr. Libertado Cruz. The launching ceremony was broadcast live via the DA-PCC’s Facebook page in partnership with Tulong Balita Online.

The Department of Agriculture (DA)-Philippine Carabao Center stages this year the 7^th National Carabao Conference (NCC) with the theme “Sulong Kakalabawan! Pag-asa’t Pagbangon sa Kabila ng Pandemya” from October 25 to 29 through a blended event.

The NCC is a venue for sharing efforts and interventions to prosper the carabao industry even at the time of the pandemic.

This year’s conference will highlight meaningful partnerships with various local government units and private institutions in achieving the DA’s twin objective: “Masaganang Ani at Mataas na Kita.”

The weeklong conference will include topics on Shared Success of Carabao Impact Zone Development: A Clustering Approach with LGUs—The Bohol and Nueva Ecija Experience; Genetic Breeder Base and Herd Buildup—The Isabela Experience; Community-based Enterprise Development—The Pangasinan and Cavite Experience; Fostering “Coopreneurship”: LGU Coinvestment in the Milk Feeding Business—The Zamboanga Del Sur Experience; A Toast to a Bright Future: The DepEd and DSWD Milk Feeding Updates; and Impact of Milk Feeding Program on Local Dairy Buffalo Industries, which will be presented by the provincial and local executives and partner agencies in the implementation of the milk feeding program.

Joining the event will be dairy farmers assisted by DA-PCC, partners, entrepreneurs, local government officials, and representatives from various government agencies and partner private organizations in the implementation of the Carabao Development Program (CDP).

Other activities include techno exhibit, recognition ceremonies for 2020 Outstanding Dairy Farmers, Dairy Buffaloes, Cooperative and Village-Based Artificial Insemination Technicians (VBAITs), launching of Gawad Livestock and Poultry and Knowledge Café.

Following last year’s celebration, this year’s NCC will be held virtually via the official Facebook page of DA-PCC in partnership with Tulong Balita Online. The 7^th NCC coincides with the DA’s 1st National Livestock and Poultry Month Celebration which aims to recognize stakeholders who make up the livestock and poultry industry and continually contribute to food and nutritional security in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Selected participants from DA-PCC undergo crash course on Radio Broadcasting 101 arranged by the Knowledge Management Division (KMD) in preparation for the agency’s forthcoming launching of the Knowledge Studio or K-Studio.

The resource speakers were veteran broadcast journalists Mario Garcia, member of the Investigative Reporters & Editors, Inc.; Andy T. Vital, editor of the Pasadena Now magazine in California; Mackay V. Quadra, producer and writer of “Radyo na, TV pa programs”; and Francis ‘Kiko’ J. Flores, announcer at Radyo Pilipinas 738Khz.

The lectures and discussions were on basic anchoring, writing and programming for radio and digital media, and radio broadcasting terminologies.The lecture was followed with the participants’ hands on at the K-Studio with Dagupan City Councilor and broadcaster Cisco Jay Flores and his staff. 

The K-Studio will serve as a venue to produce digital content that will promote the Carabao Development Program through “TeleRadyo” approach via the DA-PCC official Facebook page. A pilot broadcast will be aired during the 7th National Carabao Conference this October.