Author: Ma. Cecilia C. Irang

The Philippine Carabao Center (PCC), through its Business Development and Commercialization Unit (BDCU), held a workshop for dairy entrepreneurs under the agency’s “Business Enhancement Series Training (BEST)” program on August 25 at the PCC national headquarters and gene pool in the Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija.

The BEST program seeks to enable dairy cooperatives to independently own and manage their enterprises as viable business undertakings. It comprises a series of trainings and workshops to equip the co-ops and its members involved in dairy processing with knowledge and skills in plant operation, production standardization and store management.

The pioneering groups which underwent the training were members of the Nueva Ecija-based Catalanacan Multi-Purpose Cooperative and Eastern Primary Multi-Purpose Cooperative, along with staff of Milka Krem, which is PCC’s central processing plant cum product outlet.

“Business enhancement series training means we are expecting you to do your best on your endeavors. The top management of PCC is expecting a lot from you. From this day forward, you will be taught on how to not depend on PCC because you, yourselves can do better if not the best. You just have to trust your own capabilities because PCC only has limited capacity. Thank you for choosing to learn, and thank you for being your best,” Dr. Liza G. Battad, chief of PCC’s planning and special projects division, said in her welcome remarks.

Initial activities lined up in the BEST program seek to address current difficulties faced by farmers as they upscale their production and distribution, such as inconsistencies, spoilage, stock-outs, communication failures and misunderstandings. The activities culminate in a series of training-workshops that encourage quality consciousness and continuous improvement to effectively integrate and sustain knowledge and skills gained from the program.

“From what we observed, there are some problems arising in the cooperatives. We noticed that they need to change their perspective on certain things so that they’d be able to easily address the problems in their respective cooperatives. We cannot fully teach them the system they need to apply. As businessmen or as entrepreneurs, it should come from them on how to establish a good system and manifest continuous improvements. They should know how to identify the problems and address solutions. There are small things they do that could contribute in the development of their enterprise,” Jan Czarina Salas, business development analyst, explained.

According to Salas, the program involves three major activities. First is the “BEST Me Workshop” to orient participants on the right attitude and perspective towards dynamic changes happening in their environment. Second is the “BEST Problem Solving Approach Workshop” to effectively sustain the application of knowledge learned from prior activities and for them to gain clear understanding and confidence in strategically dealing with problems arising from their day-to-day operations. Third is the “BEST: Inter Dairy Kaizen Competition (IDKC)”. It is a venue for the program’s participating teams to present their Kaizen (Japanese word meaning “change for better”)-inspired problem-solving procedures based on their identified problems from the previous activity. The groups then present their outputs based from detailed instructions in the previous activity. Outstanding presentations in two categories, namely, dairy plant processing and dairy sales and marketing, are given due recognition.

“We don’t want them to just learn how to do business, but also to ignite the business-consciousness inside of them and make it their core, every member of the dairy processing team is an entrepreneur,” she further said.

Aside from the major activities, the program also provides support activities, such as dairy plant standardization, benchmarking tour and store management training.

“The program is strategically designed and implemented to develop independence and confidence by trusting their capabilities, especially those that will be harnessed by the program. Creatively, we will use the motivating force of “competition” to encourage them to perform excellently and more consciously about the relevant factors, especially those that are just driven by emotions and behaviors,” Zadieshar Sanchez, PCC-BDCU project evaluation officer, stressed.

Kimberlie Alejo-De Vera, former Kaizen trainer at Toyota in Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija, served as the resource speaker for the training.

“Sometimes, we see problems as problems, we don’t see it as something that needs solutions. Always remember that a problem is an opportunity to excel. It is a matter that we have to make an effort to solve,” she pointed out on how dairy entrepreneurs should face their problems encountered.

The next set of trainings under the BEST program is scheduled for September and December this year.

“In just one click, we can now easily generate and track financial reports from the computer regarding how much funds were utilized and disbursed by our agency by using the enhanced eNGAS and eBudget system software that were developed by our national government,”Jean Gasmeña, chief of Philippine Carabao Center’s (PCC) administrative and finance division (AFD), declared in the aftermath of the “Enhanced eNGAS and eBudget System Roll Out” training held August 3-7 at the PCC national headquarters and gene pool in the Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija.

The training is part of continuing efforts of the national government aimed at improving efficiency, accountability and transparency in the use of public funds, particularly in the context of the public financial management program (PFMP).

The PFMP is being implemented in accordance with the PFM Reform Roadmap: Towards Improved Accountability and Transparency, 2011-2015, with assistance from the Australian government, which committed A$30 million to the PFMP. The PFM Reform agenda aims to improve and harmonize the financial management processes and information systems of the Philippine civil service.

“The program envisioned that five years from now, as part of harmonizing the PFMP processes, all fund utilization and disbursement by the government will be easily created and uploaded to a website,”Gasmeña said.

The enhanced eNGAS (New Government Accounting System) and eBudget software was developed by information technology (IT) experts from the Commission on Audit (COA) for use in the submission of financial reports required by the Department of Budget Management (DBM), COA and Department of Finance-Bureau of Treasury (DOF-BTr) from government agencies.

“Likewise, it is adapted to the international standard for financial accounting and now being used by government bookkeepers, budget officers and accountants nationwide,” Gasmeña said.

“It is also compliant with the Philippine Public Sector Accounting Standards (PPSAS), Revised Chart of Accounts (RCA) and Unified Accounts Code Structure of the government,” she stressed.

For PCC’s part, Gasmeña mentioned that the training was important for the agency to comply with mandatory rules or systems that were introduced by the government.

By using the software, she said, there will be congruency and uniformity with the terms, codes, and account titles used in their reports. Moreover, it is user-friendly and can generate financial reports in lesser time and with more accuracy, she said.

“It can also be of help to PCC in making sound decisions relative to its budgetary planning,” she further said.

Meanwhile, in his message during the closing ceremony, Dr. Arnel N. Del Barrio, PCC acting executive director, said that the training is of great help to PCC in complying with pertinent standards.

“I believe that one measure of how a particular agency performs well is through its effective and proper use of its budget. Being more transparent with regards to our fund utilization and disbursement is I think very important to show to the public how well we manage our activities and funds,” he pointed out.

The training was attended by 34 staff from PCC’s national headquarters and 13 regional centers nationwide. They included the agency’s accountants, budget officers and bookkeepers as well as personnel from its information technology (IT) and cash units.

IT and financial accounting experts from the Commission on Audit (COA) served as resource persons, namely, Marlon R. Marquina, Romeo C. Cruz, Jorgen C. Fulleros, Michelle M. Gargarra, Lara Jane M. dela Torre and Sarah Joy M. Labino.

The Philippine Carabao Center (PCC) recently launched a market venue called “Dairy Box Dairy Delicatessen” to bring the carabao farmers’ buffalo-derived products closer to the market.

The Dairy Box carries the tagline “Go local, go dairy”, which is anchored on its purpose of serving tourists and locals interested in buying freshly made products that use buffalo’s milk as main ingredient.

The one-stop shop showcases and sells pasalubong (gift or present) treats and pastries of the Catalanacan Multi-Purpose Cooperative (CAMPC) and other local dairy buffalo farmers’ cooperatives.

Among these products are espasol de leche, macapuno, bibingkang gatas, macaroons, leche flan, bibingkang kanin, pulvoron, tibok-tibok, sapin-sapin and chicharabao. Other upcoming products that will be soon available in the shop are buko pie, lechetin, yema (duche de leche), piayema, dairy tarts, dairy empanada and mini cupcakes.

The Dairy Box looks forward to becoming a “go-to” destination for travelers, thereby contributing to food tourism in Nueva Ecija.

The one-stop shop is strategically located along Maharlika Highway, Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija, just beside Milka Krem, which is PCC’s central milk processing facility.

Essentially, the Dairy Box is an infrastructure support for smallholder dairy farmers designed to provide them with an opportunity to gain access to the commercial market for greater income.

“It’s been a dream of PCC to launch a one-stop dairy hub that will focus on marketing quality products made by our local dairy cooperatives. It is about empowering our dairy farmers to continue to grow through provision of opportunity for value-adding, thus giving them additional income. Given the right market at the right place at the right time, at the right quality and packaging we believe in PCC, that dairy production will improve a lot,” PCC Acting Executive Director Arnel N. Del Barrio said in his message during the Dairy Box’s grand opening.

Present during the occasion were farmer-members of the CAMPC and Eastern Primary Multi-Purpose Cooperative as well as key officials from the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), local government unit of the Science City of Munoz (LGU-Munoz) and PCC staff.

The grand opening coincided with signing of two Memoranda of Agreement: (1) between PCC and PhilMech for the “design and development of an engine-driven baling machine”, and (2) between PCC and CAMPC, DAR, DTI, and LGU-Muñoz for the “village-level processing center enhancement program”.

Farmer-trustees of 11 cooperatives, which were recipients of shared service facility (SSF) from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), recently met in a general assembly at the Philippine Carabao Center (PCC) national headquarter and gene pool in Munoz, Nueva Ecija to discuss various matters related to the said facility.

The SSF are milking machines for use by the PCC-assisted dairy co-ops in Nueva Ecija, which is the agency’s National Impact Zone (NIZ) under the Carabao Development Program (CDP).

The units consist of two double-bucket type milking machines and two milk cans, each with 40-liter capacity. The milking machines come in two types: electrical and gas engine-driven

The SSF grantees are the Nag-iisang Masikap Primary Multi-Purpose Cooperative (PMPC), Pulong Buli PMPC, Bagong Pag-asa sa Bagong Talavera PMPC, Casile Dairy PMPC, Simula ng Panibagong Bukas MPC, Ayos Lomboy Dairy Cooperative, Buklod Producers Cooperative, KAPAGENA, Kabulihan Producers Cooperative, Dimasalang Sur Credit Cooperative, and San Vicente Dairy Producers Cooperative.

According to Dr. Peregrino G. Duran, team leader of the PCC dairy herd improvement-enterprise development program, the maximum utilization of milking machine is highly recommended to keep it in good working condition. He also pointed out that only the province of Nueva Ecija received the most number of milking machines under DTI’s SSF scheme.

During the assembly, which was held on July 30, issues on the status of the milking machines that are either not functioning well or not fully utilized were thoroughly discussed.

Engr. Eladio N. Duran, DTI small and medium enterprise development division chief, encouraged the farmer-trustees to work together to address these problems. He also suggested that any farmer-cooperator who wants to borrow unutilized units can submit a letter-request to DTI to avail of the equipment.

“You need to utilize the milking machine otherwise it will become rusty and eventually unserviceable. It is also significant for all of you to know the importance of regular milking of the animals to prevent mastitis and to boost its milk production potential,” Dr. Felomino V. Mamuad, PCC deputy executive director, reminded the farmer-trustees.

One of the farmer-beneficiaries shared his strategy for his animal to be accustomed to machine milking.

“Para masanay ‘yong kalabaw ko sa milking machine, ang ginagawa ko ay pinapaandar ko lang ‘yong milking machine, hinahayaan ko siyang masanay sa tunog habang manu-mano kong ginagatasan ‘yong kalabaw. Pagkaraan ng isang linggo, nasanay na ‘yong kalabaw sa tunog at naging madali na ang paggamit nito (For my carabao to be accustomed to milking machine, I just let it hear the sound of milking machine while I am manually milking it. After one week, my carabao is already used to the sound and it becomes efficient to use),” Arnold Cunanan, member of Simula ng Panibagong Bukas MPC, narrated.

Earlier, the farmer-trustees were provided basic know-how on the repair of the milking machine in a demo-training on May 26 with Engr. Benjamin De Guzman of the National Dairy Authority as resource person. He did an actual presentation on the proper maintenance of the milking machine, how to prevent it from being broken, and how to do the repair works.

A total of 47 participants attended the July 30 assembly. Aside from the farmer-trustees, staff members from the PCC and DTI also participated in the activity.

Reproductive technologies are helpful tools in improving and multiplying the dairy herd.

This was stressed by Dr. Eufrocina Atabay, head of the Reproductive Biotechnology and Physiology Unit of the Philippine Carabao Center (PCC), as 17 participants from 10 countries completed an “International Training Course on Dairy Herd Improvement by the Use of Reproductive Biotechnology” held at PCC on July 13-22.

The training course was organized by the PCC in collaboration with the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research Development (PCAARRD) of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and Food and Fertilizer Technology Center (FFTC) of Taiwan.

The participants were from the Cambodia, Ecuador, Indonesia, Malaysia, Laos, Pakistan, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines.

The resource persons included former PCC executive director Dr. Libertado C. Cruz, Dr. Rangsun Parnpai from Thailand; Dr. Ming-che Wu and Dr. Takashi Nagai, from Taiwan; Dr. Bui Xuan Nguyen from Vietnam; Dr. Satoko Matoba and Dr. Kei Imai from Japan; and Dr. Atabay.

Dr. Cruz discussed the topic on “The role of reproductive biotechnologies in addressing food sufficiency and climate change” on the first day of the training.

The other experts, on the other hand, discussed five major topics, namely, Ovum Pick-Up, In-vitro maturation and In-vitro fertilization (IVM and IVF); Vitrification, Multiple Ovulation and Embryo Transfer (MOET) and Pregnancy Diagnosis through Ultrasonography.

Ovum-pick-up is a technique wherein oocytes (egg cells) are collected from live animals in vivo (a procedure done inside a live animal) with the aid of an ultrasound-guided needle. In this technique, oocytes are collected from the follicles in the ovaries by aspiration or sucking, then matured in the laboratory for 24 hours, and fertilized and cultured for six to seven days before being transferred to prepared recipients or frozen for use at a later date. In the training, the OPU was highlighted as the most important technology that can be used in dairy animals.

On the other hand, the IVM is a process wherein the eggs are removed from ovaries when they are still immature while the IVF follows the same process but involves the use of mature eggs. After collection, the eggs are usually matured in the laboratory before being fertilized.

Vitrification, meanwhile, is a technique in cryopreservation which means freezing of the object to sub-zero temperature. This technique prevents damage in the cells caused by crystal formation. It uses cryo-protectants that form a glass-like solution at low temperature without crystallizing.

The MOET is a technology that is performed on a female donor buffalo selected for superior pedigree or genetic traits. The animal is super-ovulated using hormones to induce production of eggs followed by artificial insemination (AI). Embryo collection is performed six to seven days after AI. The quality embryo is transferred to a surrogate dam whose estrous cycle (the period in which the female buffalo is “in heat” or sexually receptive) is at the right stage.

The Pregnancy Diagnosis via Ultrasonography, as presented, is a process that is usually done to determine early pregnancy. It is performed through the use of ultrasound machine and rectal probe. In this process, ultrasound imaging, also called ultrasound scanning or sonography, provides high-frequency sound waves that are transmitted from the probe through the gel into the body. The transducer collects the sounds that bounce back and a computer then uses those sound waves to create an image. In the training, this technology was performed on buffaloes at 30, 45 and 60 days after breeding.

In their presentations, the speakers also provided step-by-step procedures and techniques in conducting these reproductive biotechnologies. They also guided the participants during hands-on sessions.

“This training essentially served as a venue for exchange of ideas, techniques and knowledge, and to enhance the technical capabilities in the field of reproductive biotechniques in water buffaloes,” Dr. Atabay, one of PCC’s scientists, said.

She emphasized that the training was important because the technologies used in reproduction are crucial in dairy herd improvement.

In his welcome remarks, Dr. Arnel N. Del Barrio, PCC acting executive director, assured the participants that PCC continues to share its expertise to those who may require or wish to avail of it.

Dr. Nagai, FFTC deputy director, in his message said that the training was a chance for them to learn various technologies used in reproduction. He also emphasized the role of science in addressing certain problems.

“Dairy milking cows are no longer as productive as they used to be. It might be because of heat stress which is somehow due to global warming. This has affected many of the milking cows’ ability to conceive, resulting in low milk production,” he said.

“Genomics, ovum pick-up (OPU) from live cows, in-vitro fertilization (IVF) and embryo transfer (ET) and a combination of technologies has been proven helpful in taking cows to the next level of genetic improvement.” he added.

Dr. Reynaldo Ebora, PCAARRD-DOST acting executive director, said that the training highlights the urgency of addressing potential problems in dairy production. He said that the training is a venue for the researchers and scientist to share their expertise, strategies and approaches in the technologies used in reproduction.

Dr. Edwin Villar, head of PCAARD’s livestock research division, noted that training is the third time for the FFTC to be involved in the conduct of the training. He added that the PCC is a reliable partner in sharing its resources for the realization of international trainings in the country.

The others who assisted in the training were Dr. Edwin Atabay, Dr. Lerma C. Ocampo, Dr. Flocerfida Aquino, Dr. Marlon B. Ocampo, Excel Rio S. Maylem, Joselito Del Rosario, Rodante V. De Vera, Roseline Tadeo, Dr. Synan S. Baguio and Ronald Mangubat.

One of the participants, Luis Santiago Reyes Pilamunga of Ecuador, commented: “This training taught us to use reproductive biotechnologies in a better way. It equipped us with new techniques, and personally, I learned a lot from this. I think that I can apply and relay all my learnings here to our country”.

A tripartite delegation led by Philippine Carabao Center (PCC) Acting Executive Director Dr. Arnel N. Del Barrio and PCC at Ubay Stock Farm Center Director Caro B. Salces took a close look at the dairy industry of Thailand on July 3-10.

Thai Ambassador to the Philippines H.E. Thanatip Upatising  joined the group in their week-long visit, which was sponsored by the Royal Thai Embassy in Manila.

The activity was aimed at enhancing stronger PH-Thai technical cooperation in the dairy industry.

Aside from the PCC officers, other delegates came from the National Dairy Authority (NDA) and Dairy Confederation of the Philippines (DairyConPhil).

The Thailand visit featured briefings and discussions about recent developments and progress in dairy-related research and development, dairy farm operations, milk collection, feed processing and Thai buffalo conservation efforts. Visits were made to dairy farms and facilities as well as government institutions involved in dairy industry development.

At the Pak Thong Chai Dairy Farm, which has 700 milking cows, the delegation was briefed on frozen semen production, feed production, processing of manure for fertilizer, and steady supply of freshwater for use in the farm.

The group also visited the Kham Thale So Dairy Cooperative to observe its operations. The co-op collects 14 tons of milk per day from its 95 members.

According to Dr. Del Barrio, Ambassador Thanatip informed them that his country focuses on three important considerations in dairy industry development, namely, commitment to their dairy industry, both by the government and the stakeholders; the participation of the private sector in the industry; and guaranteed market for the farmers’ milk produce through a milk feeding program.

The ambassador also mentioned that based on a report by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO),  his country has 4.5M dairy cattle, of which 1.5 million head are in Pak Chong province, producing 1M tons of fresh per year. The total milk production meets about 66% of the demand in the Thai market.

In that area, 60 to70 dairy cooperatives are operating with 60% of the dairy farmers, or about 20,000 are coop members. Dairying, in that province, has become a profitable business and is treated as a family enterprise, ensuring steady income for the family members.

At the Nakhon Ratchasima Animal Nutrition Research and Development Center and the TMR production facility, presentations were made on the use of Napier grass in beef production, dairy production and biogas for energy.

The Philippine delegation were also able to visit the C.P. Meiji in Nong Khae, Saraburi , which has demonstrated successful milk processing business; the B.P. Animal Feed Company for the animal feed business; a  buffalo village where a Thai buffalo conservation center is located;  a Murrah buffalo farm for small-scale buffalo farm and business in which its store heralds the tagline “It is not only homemade, it is farm made”; and the Royal Projects at Chitralada Palace in Bangkok.

“In the palace, Dr. Utta Jamikorn, assistant professor of Chulalongkorn University, briefed us about the existence of the first cloned swamp buffalo in Thailand. The ear tissue was used to produce the clone, which is now about four years old and it is exactly the same as the origin of the tissue sample,” Del Barrio said.

Upon his return home, the PCC head re-echoed the group’s experiences and learnings to all the employees at the agency’s national headquarters.

“I witnessed the robustness of their dairy industry. They started like us, but now they are producing more than 60% of their local requirements. The objective of the Thai Embassy is food security, saying that if milk production is not increased, in the future, we might face food scarcity,” Dr. Del Barrio stated.