Sta. Rosa:Makati City The National Dairy Authority (NDA) and ABI Pascual Foods, Inc. have joined forces to enhance the milk feeding program aimed at advancing child nutrition and supporting local dairy farmers. The partnership was formalized in Makati City on Thursday, with the collaboration being coordinated with the Department of Education (DepEd) and the City Government of Sta. Rosa.
According to Philippines News agency, this public-private partnership will support the daily milk feeding of 504 learners at Malitlit Elementary School in Sta. Rosa, Laguna. ABI Pascual Foods, Inc. has become the first partner under the Private Sector-Funded Milk Feeding Program, which aims to improve market access for Filipino dairy farmers by connecting them with schools that have direct institutional demands.
NDA Administrator Marcus Antonius Andaya highlighted the benefits of linking school feeding initiatives with local procurement under the Sagip Saka Act, stating that it creates a beneficial model for both child health and local agriculture. He emphasized that the commitment from private-sector partners like ABI Pascual provides economic stability for dairy farmers, enabling them to expand production.
Andaya commended ABI Pascual as the NDA's first private partner and encouraged other private sectors to collaborate in boosting the milk feeding program. He noted that such partnerships ensure that more Filipino learners receive essential nutritional support.
ABI Pascual Foods, Inc. Managing Director Javier Palomino stressed the importance of consistent nutrition for learners, emphasizing the creation of a blueprint for uniting corporate resources and public policy to achieve long-term child nutrition and national dairy self-sufficiency. Palomino noted the program's potential to provide sustained nourishment for students while supporting local dairy farmers through reliable market demand.
In the first 100 days of implementation, approximately 10,080 liters of fresh milk will be procured and distributed, equating to 50,400 bottles of 200 milliliters of milk. This initiative represents potential sales of around PHP1.26 million for the NDA-assisted dairy cooperative, Katipunan ng Kooperatibang Manggagatas, Inc. in Laguna.
