Manila: Dingras, Ilocos Norte: Farmers in Dingras, Ilocos Norte have begun expanding dairy farming as a sustainable source of income through a government-supported dairy buffalo development program that aims to increase milk production while improving livelihoods in rural communities.
According to Philippines News Agency, Joel Cabading, head of the Philippine Carabao Center (PCC) in Batac City, Ilocos Norte, stated that a total of 54 dairy buffaloes are now being taken care of by at least two government-assisted farmers associations in Barangay San Marcelino, Dingras, Ilocos Norte. These associations, the Timpuyog de San Marcelino Sustainable Livelihood Program Association and the Ka-Saka Sustainable Livelihood Program Association (SLPA), have shifted from relying mainly on rice farming to raising dairy buffaloes.
The first batch of recipients of the PCC-entrusted 29 female dairy buffaloes in April reported that dairy farming provides a more stable and regular source of income through the sale of fresh carabao milk. To further strengthen the industry, the PCC entrusted an additional 25 female dairy buffaloes worth PHP2 million on July 24 to the second group, Ka-Saka SLPA, to boost local milk production and generate sustainable livelihood opportunities for farmers.
The expanded dairy herd, developed through a breeding program under a social contract with the farmers' associations, also supports nutrition and food security by increasing the availability of fresh carabao milk, Cabading added. In 2025, Ka-Saka SLPA received PHP500,000 in livelihood assistance through the Office of Ilocos Norte 2nd District Rep. Eugenio Angelo Marcos Barba. "This project aims to empower rural families through sustainable agriculture and enterprise development while advancing Dingras as a hub for buffalo-based livelihood initiatives," said Barba during the turnover of the project.
Before the turnover, farmer-beneficiaries were trained on dairy buffalo management, along with ongoing technical and marketing assistance from the PCC to ensure the long-term success of the project. The center purchases the milk produced by the farmers and helps them connect with institutional buyers and government feeding programs, creating a reliable market for their products.
According to Cabading, the program has already transformed the lives of several beneficiaries in the village. Edelberto Reyes Jr., president of the Timpuyog de San Marcelino SLPA, shared in an earlier interview with the PNA that a single PCC-entrusted carabao given to him in 2022 helped him build a house and sustain his family's daily needs. Reyes expressed gratitude for the collaborative efforts of the PCC, Department of Social Welfare and Development, and the local government in strengthening their livelihoods.
With assistance from the municipal government, the Philippine Carabao Center, and partner agencies, Cabading said Dingras is emerging as a model community for dairy farming in Ilocos Norte, demonstrating how livestock diversification can improve rural incomes while strengthening the province's local dairy industry.
