(PHOTO COURTESY)
TACLOBAN CITY – The Philippine Carabao Center (PCC) has inaugurated Eastern Visayas’ first dairy box product outlet and dairy processing plant in Barangay Abango, Barugo, Leyte, showcasing fresh, locally produced carabao milk and other dairy products.
Implemented under the Carabao-based Business Improvement Network (CBIN) and Coconut-Carabao Development (CCD) projects, the facility serves as a one-stop shop similar to the Department of Agriculture’s Kadiwa program, designed to empower farmers by providing sustainable livelihood opportunities through carabao farming.
Managed by the Kangara Multi-Purpose Cooperative from Carigara, the outlet will give small-scale dairy farmers access to commercial markets, ensuring fair pricing for their produce and helping stabilize income. It is the 61st Dairy Box outlet nationwide.
Products available include fresh milk, pastillas, flavored milk, cheese, and ice cream made from carabao milk. Local delicacies like roscas and other biscuits from Barugo residents will also be sold.
Carigara Mayor Eduardo Ong Jr. lauded the project, saying it eliminates middlemen and directly links farmers to consumers.
“We have also partnered with the DA to increase the number of carabao farmers through dispersal programs to further strengthen the industry,” Ong said.
Recently, the LGU and DA distributed 20 carabaos to three farmers’ organizations in the municipality to boost production.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)
