Romblon: The National Dairy Authority (NDA) on Thursday announced its intention to expand milk production programs in Romblon. This decision follows a meeting with 14 out of 17 local chief executives in the province to discuss the potential expansion of the government's dairy development program.
According to Philippines News Agency, NDA Administrator Marcus Antonius Andaya stated that the program aims to enhance local livelihood and nutrition in the province. He highlighted that the initiative would benefit children, mothers, and farmers. Andaya also noted that the program would ensure better access to fresh and sustainable milk supply in the province, with locally produced milk supporting ongoing government feeding programs, such as the Department of Education's (DepEd) initiative, which has doubled its milk feeding program beneficiaries to 4.6 million learners nationwide for 2026.
Andaya emphasized the need to boost local production due to the increasing demand for fresh milk. He mentioned that government partners, including DepEd and other institutions, are looking to source milk locally, and local chief executives are interested in acquiring milk for their feeding programs.
The proposed expansion will involve close coordination between the NDA and local government units (LGUs) to identify suitable areas for the dairy development program. The NDA will provide technical support, distribute planting starter kits, and implement capacity-building activities for dairy farmers. Andaya explained that the NDA is taking a proactive approach by presenting opportunities in dairy to LGUs rather than waiting for them to express interest.
During the meeting, some local officials expressed interest in utilizing idle lands for potential dairy production and development. The expansion is expected to enhance the local dairy value chain, encompassing production, collection, and distribution.
In 2025, the NDA reported a record-high local milk production of approximately 43.4 million liters, raising the country's milk sufficiency to 2.22 percent, a significant increase from the 1 percent maintained over the past 30 years.
