First dairy box facility in Eastern Visayas opens in Leyte
The first dairy box facility in Eastern Visayas opened in Carigara, Leyte, on Tuesday, July 29.
Mayor Eduardo Ong Jr. said the facility was built in partnership with the Philippine Coconut Authority, Philippine Carabao Center, provincial goverment of Leyte, and the Department of Agriculture.
The project was an initiative in coordination with former Sen. Cynthia Villar, former chairwoman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food, and Agrarian Reform.
The P10-million project includes a marketing hub and dispersal of 50 heads of carabaos and processing facility to the Kangara Multi-Purpose Cooperative.
Since Carigara is known for its pastillas made from carabao’s milk, the mayor said that they aim to promote dairy milk production complemented by coco-based farming systems to augment farmers' income.
He disclosed that they have been outsourcing the main ingredient for their pastillas and other products.
With the facility and stable carabao milk supply, they are looking into exporting their products in the future.
The project aims to address nutrient deficiencies in children with feeding programs and support coconut farmers through the association’s initiatives.
The association will develop a carabao-based enterprise by consolidating, processing, and marketing dairy products.