Agri-Agra na Reporma para sa Magsasaka ng Pilipinas Movement (AGRI Party-List) representative Cong. Wilbert T. Lee strongly lobbies for an increased budget for the DA-Philippine Carabao Center (DA-PCC) during a recent budget briefing of the House Committee on Appropriations.
According to Rep. Lee, DA-PCC was allotted PHP89 million for the research and development of the National Carabao Development Program and PHP274 million for the Dairy Herd Buildup Project (DHBP).
By promoting the local dairy industry, the Bicolano lawmaker argued the need for stronger support on research and innovation in both carabao and cattle to improve dairy practices and production.
“Napakalayo pa ng ating bansa sa pagkamit ng milk sufficiency. Kaya dapat maging kayod-kalabaw din ang gobyerno sa pagsuporta sa mga ahensya para mapaunlad ang local dairy industry at hindi tayo laging dependent sa importation,” he said. He added, “We deserve better and it is our right to demand better services and demand more opportunities in our country.”
This year, DA-PCC received a PHP787 million budget from the Department of Budget and Management. The center’s prioritized programs include the Carabao-based Business Improvement Network, PL480 Intensified Community-based Dairy Enterprise Development, and the Dairy Herd Buildup of Genetically Improved Dairy Buffaloes, which aims to purchase breeding animals for institutional and cooperative farms, boosting local dairy stock and milk production.
