The National Dairy Authority (NDA) is hoping to secure funding of up to ₱4.88 billion next year, more than double its current budget, to help accelerate the development of stock farms and strengthen the country’s dairy supply.

On the sidelines of an event hosted by the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, NDA Administrator Marcus Antonius Andaya said he expects the agency’s higher budget for 2027 to kickstart the construction of at least three stock farms, and potentially even more.

He said the NDA has already planned to spend around ₱50 million each to build the stock farms, which will be located in Baguio City, Sorsogon, and Negros Island.

Each of these stock farms is expected to cover an area of 50 hectares and support up to 150 dairy cattle.

The three farms will be supported by the NDA’s planned request of around ₱1.5 billion from the national government for next year’s annual budget, which will also cover the agency’s regular programs.

The expectation of a higher budget will come from the implementation of a law creating a ₱20-billion standalone fund for the livestock sector, which would add ₱1.53 billion to the NDA’s spending plan.

The NDA is banking on Republic Act (RA) No. 12308, or the Animal Industry Development and Competitiveness Act, to fuel the increase in its total allocation of ₱2.38 billion this year.

The law established the Animal Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (AnCEF), which will have an annual budget of ₱20 billion sourced from tariff collections on imported livestock, poultry, and dairy products.

Under AnCEF, the NDA stands to receive ₱500 million for food safety and training services, ₱700 million for herd build-up, and ₱333.33 million for feeds and forage development.

As long as this is realized, Andaya said the agency will immediately move to build more stock farms. He earlier said the plan is to build farms in each region.

At present, the NDA has four active stock farms located in General Tinio, Nueva Ecija; Ubay, Bohol; Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur; and Carmen, Cotabato.

The NDA is currently constructing a stock farm in Malaybalay, Bukidnon, which is expected to be operational within the year.

If funding commitment remains unchanged, the NDA’s budget next year will also get a boost from the ₱1.85-billion milk feeding program of the Department of Education (DepEd).

Andaya earlier said this budget would help provide a more stable market for locally produced milk, encouraging dairy farmers to increase production.

Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed that domestic dairy production in the first quarter rose by six percent to 11.79 million liters from 11.07 million liters in the same period last year.

The value of dairy production, measured at constant 2018 prices, similarly increased by six percent to ₱449 million from ₱422 million a year ago.