By PR | 09:30 PM July 18, 2024
The 8th Bohol Dairy Festival took place in San Miguel town on Wednesday, July 17.
The event anchored on the theme “Malungtarong Panggatasan, Malahutayong Panginabuhian” celebrated the milestones of the Bohol Dairy Development Program, which was granted P9.2 million for Buffalo Dairy Processing and Marketing.
The Office of the Provincial Veterinarian (OPV), headed by Dr. Stella Marie Lapiz, led the linedup activities that began with the Festival Carabao Parade contest participated by groups, cooperatives, and the representatives of the OPV.
San Miguel Mayor Ian Gil Mendez delivered the welcome remarks during the program proper held at the San Miguel Municipal gymnasium.
The National Dairy Authority (NDA) officer- in – charge lawyer Gavino Alfredo Benitez, former mayor of San Miguel and Executive Assistant Nunila Pinat representing acting Governor Dionisio Victor Balite, and Rep. Vanessa Aumentado also conveyed messages of support.
Pinat reaffirmed the commitment of the provincial government to support the dairy industry of the province and its aspiration to be a diary capital, anchored on the strategic governance roadmap of Gov. Erico Aristotle Aumentado on people empowerment and enterprise development towards local economic growth.
Also present during the occasion were Executive Director Caro Salces, Philippine Carabao Center (PCC) Deputy and Eng. Cirilo Namoc of the Department of Agriculture Region 7.
Pinat, Mendez, and Roger Damalerio of the Bohol Dairy Cooperative (Bodaco) also signed a Memorandum of Agreement for the Establishment of a Community-based Feed Mill by the provincial government of Bohol to the local Government unit of San Miguel and Bodaco.
Afterward, a certificate of entrustment was handed over to the local government unit of Candijay headed by Mayor Thamar Olaivar, amounting to P5,422,675 for the expansion of the Alab Karbawan Project.
NDA and OPV also turned over dairy equipment and supplies.
The Katarungan Small Coconut Farmers received three units of forage chopper, two grass cutters, and one hand tractor.
The 12 people’s organizations from the towns of Alicia, Candijay, Dagohoy, Mabini, San Miguel, and Ubay received 65 mineral blocks, 75 containers of mineral molasses, 14 milk pails, and 350 silage bags.
In addition, the Bohol Dairy Cooperative, Farmers Gabi Association (Faga), San Jose Buffalo Dairy Producer Association, Katipunan Farmers and Escaya Credit Cooperative, Village Dairy Farmers Association, Bugang Dairy Breeders Association, Untaga Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Bongbong Dairy Association, Libertad Tubigon Farmers Association, and Sagbayan Farmers Association were awarded equipment from the provincial government.
20 ATI-NDA CFID graduates also received their certificate of appreciation and completion on Basic Dairy Husbandry for Cattle, where they were given tools and equipment during the event.
Contest winners were awarded P5,000 each, including Grace Boyles for the highest milk production, Bugang National High School for poster-making, and Marge Añuba for the best-dressed carabao.
The Dairy Festival concluded with games sponsored by BMEG Premium and UNAHCO. The piglet-catching game winners were Jose Golosino and Carmen Caolin.
A ceremonial Festival Milk Toast joined by 50 children also happened with PCC-Ubay Director Dinah Loculan and other guests.
The 8th Dairy Festival, aimed to promote dairy products for the health and nutrition of the children and to provide livelihood opportunities for the dairy farmers of the province, is part of the ‘Tabo’ stream of the bigger and grander Sandugo sa Bohol 2024 celebration.
