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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider 99% of PH's dairy supply is imported, House panel told

99% of PH's dairy supply is imported, House panel told

Published Aug 23, 2023 01:28 am

At A Glance

  • House Deputy Majority Leader and Quezon 2nd district Rep. David "Jay-jay" Suarez was shocked to find out from the National Dairy Authority (NDA) Tuesday, Aug. 22 that the Philippines' self-sufficiency level for milk products was at a pathetic one percent. 

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Did you drink a glass of milk this morning? Chances are, it wasn't locally sourced.

House Deputy Majority Leader and Quezon 2nd district Rep. David "Jay-jay" Suarez was shocked to find out from the National Dairy Authority (NDA) Tuesday, Aug. 22 that the Philippines' self-sufficiency level for milk products was at a pathetic one percent.

Yes, you read that right.

"Anong sufficiency level ngayon ng dairy industry natin? (What's the sufficiency level of our dairy industry?)" Suarez asked NDA Administrator Gabriel Lagamayo during the House Committee on Appropriations' hearing on the Department of Agriculture's (DA) proposed 2024 budget.

"Nasa one percent pa rin po, your honor (It's still at one percent, your honor)," Lagamayo sheepishly answered.

"One percent? So what you're saying [is] 99 percent of all our dairy requirements is imported?" the incredulous solon asked, to which Lagamayo said, "Yes po congressman, that's correct."

"We have stated that even in our website, your honor," added the NDA chief.

When Lagamayo told Suarez that the country’s self-sufficiency for dairy products has been stuck at one percent for at least the past three years, the latter quipped, "Ah so ganun lang? (Ah is that it?) At least consistent."

"But unacceptable," the Quezon lawmaker added. He then turned to the panel chairman as he placed on record the "very dismal performance of the NDA".

Before ending his interpellation on Lagamayo, Suarez took to task the NDA for not implementing a capacity-building project for farmers in Sariaya, Quezon. Suarez claimed that the NDA promised to provide for housing and forage to the farmers, only to tell them in a subsequent site visit that the farmers' group didn't qualify for the project.

He said this was just one of the reasons why the NDA has been performing poorly.

Related Tags

Dairy Products National Dairy Authority (NDA) David Suarez
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