Team KISAVIQ, which stands for Kalinga, Isabela, Aurora, Vizcaya, Ifugao and Quirino Province, dairy zone, has successfully installed and operationalized the first ever retort facility for the sterilization of carabao’s milk in Cagayan Valley.
Said facility is seen to boost milk production and marketing in the region while fulfilling its commitment for the School-based Feeding Program (SBPF) of the Department of Education (DepEd) under the RA 11037 or the “Masustansyang Pagkain para sa Batang Pilipino Act”.
Spearheaded by Noime C. Liangco, owner of the Amancio Nicolas Agri-Tourism Academy Inc., Team KISAVIQ is now ready to consolidate, process, and distribute sterilized carabao’s milk to far-flung areas in the Northern part of Luzon, which is expected to improve the nutritional status of undernourished children.
The delivery and installation of said retort facility was completed last April 15. The trial run was carried out soon after. The facility can produce at least 12,000 packs of sterilized carabao’s milk in two shifts per day.
DA-PCC assisted dairy cooperatives in the region including Quirino Dairy Cooperative (QUIDACO) in Maddela, Quirino and San Agustin Dairy Cooperative (SADACO) in San Agustin, Isabela pledged to consolidate their excess milk production with the aim of contributing to the sustainability and realization of the goals and objectives of the dairy zone.
The team conducted their first meeting and strategic planning on December 11, 2020 at Amancio Hotel, Cordon, Isabela through the initiative of DA-Philippine Carabao Center at Cagayan State University (DA-PCC at CSU) headed by Dr. Rovina Piñera and Dr. Caro B. Salces, DA-PCC’s Deputy Executive Director for Admin and Finance. Also present during the meeting were DA-PCC’s OIC-Planning Officer Dr. Ericson N. Dela Cruz and National Milk Feeding Program Coordinator Ms. Mina P. Abella; Noime C. Liangco; and other key employees and staff of DA-PCC at CSU.
The strategic planning is a move to set a direction on how dairy development will prosper in the region. With the ongoing intervention, DA-PCC is certain that carabao’s milk is set to reach far, benefitting more undernourished children in previously unreachable areas.
