School-based milk feeding program launched in Ubay
By Bohol Island News Staff | 08:10 PM November 28, 2019
The province of Bohol continues to pursue its bid to become the “Dairy Capital of the Philippines” as it observed the 5th edition of the annual Milk Festival at at the Farmer’s Trading Center in Lomangog, Ubay on Thursday, November 28.
The festival aims to promote the dairy buffalo’s milk not only for economic benefits but also for the promotion of health and nutrition among small-hold dairy farmers and their families as well as the consumers.
Highlight of this year’s celebration was the launch of the school-based milk feeding program of the Department of Education and the Bohol Integrated Community-Based Dairy Farming.
It was attended by Senator Cynthia Villar.
“I am glad that the highlight of the event is the launch of the school-based milk feeding program of the Department of Education and the Bohol Integrated Community-Based Dairy Farming,” Villa told more than 500 attendees.
Villar, the chairperson of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food, said she has been proposing and pursuing the use of locally-produced milk in the National School Feeding Program to help solve malnutrition among school children and to provide livelihood to dairy farmers.
“I have filed legislations regarding it and I was also the one who inserted a section about it in Republic Act (RA) No. 11037 or the Masustansyang Pagkain Para sa Batang Pilipino Act that was passed into law last year,” she said.
Under RA No. 11037, the school-based milk feeding program, fresh milk and fresh milk-based food products should be included in the fortified meals and cycle menu in schools.
Villar said milk should be affordable for all children.
“Kailangan ng murang gatas para sa mga kabataan para lulusog at tatalino,” she said.
Villar said the Philippines can attain sustainability in dairy production with a stepped-up drive of farmers and the Philippine Carabao Center (PCC) at the Ubay Stock Farm.
She noted that India became the biggest producer of dairy products through small-scale or backyard producers.
“At mangyayari yan sa Bohol,” she said.
