The local dairy industry, which locally produces milk, remains its priority for the School-Based Feeding Program (SBFP), the Department of Education (DepEd) said.

DepEd gave this assurance as a response to the letter from the Philippine Chamber of Agriculture and Food, Inc. (PCAFI) and Dairy Confederation of the Philippines (DCP).

The agency also addressed the concerns raised related to the matter. In particular, DepEd categorically denied allegations related to “dislodging” local dairy farmers.

DepEd also assured all concerned that its implementation of the SBFP espouses the sourcing of milk from the local dairy farmers, consistent with RA 11037 or the “Masustansyang Pagkain para sa Batang Pilipino Act.”

The law, DepEd said, is operationalized through DepEd Order (DO) No. 22, s. 2020, and DO 37, s. 2022 which “practically tied” the Schools Division Offices (SDOs) as the procuring entities for the SBFP to source out milk to local suppliers except in some areas.

Moreover, DepEd said that it has regularly secured a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the concerned agencies since the milk component of the SBFP has been implemented which has helped facilitate the procurement of locally-produced milk for the program.

DepEd Undersecretary for Administration Alain Del Pascua also reported that for the last two years, the department has “sourced out around 80 percent of fresh milk and other milk-based products from the local cooperatives and enterprises.”

He added that DepEd purchased only 20 percent commercial milk in areas where the partners of the National Dairy Authority (NDA) and the Philippine Carabao Center (PCC) “cannot supply the milk requirement.”

Likewise, DepEd also assured that support and opportunities for the farmers would continue.

DepEd said it has proposed that the additional P1 billion allocation for SBFP be used solely for milk feeding.

“Once approved, this will be implemented during the first semester of the next school year,” DepEd said.

DepEd added that the same process—prioritizing local farmers through the partnership with the NDA and the PCC—will be “observed in securing the milk supply requirements for the said feeding.”