PLARIDEL, Misamis Occidental (PIA)—The Department of Agriculture-Philippine Carabao Center (DA-PCC) and Central Mindanao University (CMU) entrusted the newly opened Dairy Box facility to Paglaum Multi-Purpose Cooperative (PMPC) on July 28.

The very first dairy facility in the province which has its dairy processing area and a product outlet was realized in partnership with the Local Government of Plaridel and the Provincial Government of Misamis Occidental. This initiative is part of the Carabao-based Business Improvement Network Project (CBIN) popularly known as ALAB-Karbawan.

"Kani atong cooperative movement balances economic viability and social responsibility. Economic in the sense that through this partnership with the PCC and the office of the good Senator Villar, makahatag siya og income sa atong mga member farmer beneficiaries, and social responsibility because we will be participating in the feeding programs of the government [Our cooperative movement balances economic viability and social responsibility. Economic in the sense that through this partnership with the PCC and the office of the good Senator Villar, we can provide income to our) member farmer beneficiaries, and social responsibility because we will be participating in the feeding programs of the government]," said Board of Directors Chairperson Edna Tanya C. Lee of PMPC.

For his part, Plaridel Mayor Gadwin Handumon emphasized the need to advocate aggressively and to market this project so people can patronize it. He then vowed to promote carabao’s milk and milk-based products available at the Dairy Box outlet to the Plaridelians and Misamisnons.

"We are creating opportunity, so in CBIN, production and consolidation, processing, marketing, capacity building, and technical support, unsa pa’y kulang dinha kundi kakugi lang, innovations sa unsa man ang naa sa ato karon [what is missing there is hard work, innovations in what we have now]. This is accelerating livelihood assets to build up the ALAB KARBAWAN Project," Handumon said.

He added that the aim of the 'Dairy Box' is to highlight the town of Plaridel as a tourism destination for dairy products.

Meanwhile, Musuan Bukidnon Dr. Lowell Paraguas, center director of the Philippine Carabao Center, shared the goal and desire of the new dairy box facility to provide farmers with more income and encourage them to continue with their farming. These buffalos are expected to increase their earnings and simultaneously contribute to the reduction of malnutrition.

Paraguas hopes that their collaboration with PCC, Paglaum, and LGU, as well as partner agencies from the Department of Science and Technology, the Department of Trade and Industry, and the Department of Education, will further develop the project.

One of the 25 farmer beneficiaries, Olive Buena, shared her gratitude for PMPC and the local government for the opportunity and shared that they have been waiting for the project since 2015.

"Rest assured that we will do our best to help in everything we can, para mapalambo ni kay kinahanglan gyud og focus ug gamay nga pamuhonan pud sa side sa farmers [Rest assured that we will do our best to do everything we can to help develop those because we need focus and a little investment on the part of the farmers]," Buena said.

Fresh and locally produced buffalo's milk products, such as white cheese and fresh and flavored milk, are available in Dairy Box Plaridel.

The Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food, and Agrarian Reform's Chair, Senator Cynthia A. Villar, helped fund the ALAB-Karbawan project to help farmers-beneficiaries. (SMRN/PIA-10/Misamis Occidental)