2016
Launching of Milk Supplementation Program
The PCC launched a 120-day milk supplementation project in Brgy. Licaong, Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija on July 29, 2016, in cooperation with the Parents-Teachers Association of Licaong Elementary School, City Health Office, City Social Welfare and Development, Barangay LGU and Health Center, and Majestic Christ Church, benefiting 183 school children.
Pilot Nutrition and Livelihood Intervention through Milk Supplementation Program
The favorable experience and preliminary findings in Licaong facilitated PCC’s formal collaboration with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in implementing the above program in pilot municipalities in Nueva Ecija, Bohol, and Bukidnon.
National Knowledge Sharing Forum on Carabao-Based Enterprise Development (CBED)
The PCC convened carabao industry players for sharing of exemplar practices of various stakeholders in CBED and in presenting preliminary versions of its 26 knowledge products (KPs) for purpose of pretesting before its launching in 2017.
Piloting of Farmer Livestock School for Dairy Buffalo Production (FLS-DBP)
The PCC piloted the FLS-DBP, a participatory adult learning modality, in three sites in the provinces of Nueva Ecija and Ilocos Norte. A first in the country, the FLS-DBP was implemented once a week for 34 weeks and was facilitated by trained individuals from farmer-cooperatives, local government units and PCC.
Certification under Performance-Based Incentive System (PBIS)
The PCC was the only operating agency in the Department of Agriculture certified by the Department of Budget and Management on May 13, 2016 to receive appropriate incentive via Performance-Based Bonus (PBB) for its personnel. This is a direct manifestation of the agency’s inherent commitment to excellence in planning, implementation and evaluation and efficiency in fund utilization.
Acquisition of Fund for Credit Window
The Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC) allocated a fund amounting to Php100 million to PCC as a credit facility for carabao keepers. The credit window to be channeled thru conduit co-operatives was designed to compose loan products for Animal Acquisition, Working Capital and Machinery, and Equipment Acquisition.
2017
International Conference on Carabao-Based Enterprise Development
The DA-PCC collaborated with the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) in hosting the said international conference on October 26-27, which saw the launching of 10 knowledge products (KP) series (named “iASK” or Innovative Answers, Solutions, and Knowledge) related to carabao production and management, processing of buffalo dairy products, and policy advocacy). The event featured plenary presentations by invited resource speakers from India, Laos, Thailand, and the Philippines.
Graduation of Pilot Class on Farmer Livestock School for Dairy Buffalo Production (FLS-DBP)
A total of 60 farmer-participants from Nueva Ecija and Ilocos Norte have completed the season-long (once-a-week session for 34 weeks) FLS-DBP. Evaluation of the effect of the FLS-DBP on the farmers’ knowledge and actual practices is forthcoming.
Selection of “Purebred” Bulls produced from Backcrossing
The year 2017 marks the first time that young crossbred bulls with 93% riverine blood, sons of the crossbred cows that were included in the genetic evaluation in 2016, were selected to become breeder bulls on loan at San Agustin, Isabela. These bulls are the first “purebred” dairy buffaloes developed by DA-PCC from continuous backcrossing of female swamp buffaloes to purebred island-born riverine buffaloes, which have undergone selection and genetic evaluation. They will be loaned out for breeding to crossbred heifers within the area to increase the number of “Philippine (dairy) buffalo” breed.
Facilitation of Credit Window for Farmers
Since August 2017, the DA-PCC has facilitated the release of Php5.2 million to over 100 carabao keepers (members of farmers’ cooperatives) in Nueva Ecija via conduit cooperatives under the Production Loan Easy Access (PLEA) credit window of the Department of Agriculture.
Dairy Buffalo Value Chain Analysis (VCA) in Luzon
The results of the DA-PCC-commissioned research on Dairy Buffalo VCA in Luzon was published as a monograph by SEARCA.
Dairy Box in Bohol
The municipality of Carmen launched the first-ever Dairy Box outlet in Bohol on August 17, 2017 at Camanayon, Tamboan, Carmen, Bohol. Managed by Tamboan Farmers Multipurpose Cooperative.
Launching of Milka Krem Outlet in UPLB and Dairy and Pastry’s Outlet in DMMMSU
Two dairy outlets were launched at the University of the Philippines-Los Baños (UPLB) in Laguna, and in Rosario, La Union. These are established to serve as a technology demonstration and learning hub and where the DA-PCC at UPLB and DA-PCC at Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University and the farmers that these centers are assisting could sell their dairy buffalo products.
Partnership with LGUs in Region 10 and Nueva Ecija on Milk Supplementation Program
Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on milk supplementation program with the Science City of Muñoz, San Jose City, Lupao, and General Natividad in Nueva Ecija. The MOA states that DA-PCC and its partner-institutions will provide milk supplement to elementary schools where malnutrition is prevalent.
Partnership between DA-PCC and DLD-Thailand
The DA-PCC and Thailand’s Department of Livestock Development inked a deal to collaborate on best practices in raising swamp and riverine buffaloes.
Launching of iREB Client Dashboard
The Intensified Research-Based Enterprise Buildup (iREB) Client Dashboard was launched as a tool that shows the performance of dairy farming business. The dashboard provides the overall business status of enrolled farmer-client and contains data such as return on investment (ROI), which is vital in the creation of business plans and entice future investors.
Communication for Development Campaign
The DA-PCC through its Knowledge Management Division started conducting a project titled “Strengthening Carabao Development Program Communication for Development (ComDev) Campaign in Visayas and Mindanao”, which aims at understanding the concerns and communication-related needs of farmer-clients in the DA-PCC’s expansion areas in Panay Island, South Cotabato, Bukidnon, and Zamboanga Del Norte and designing and implementing appropriate communication interventions.
