South Cotabato, Philippines – The Provincial Government of South Cotabato is gearing to expand its milk processing operations and transform the facility into a model training center for Region 12, a strategic initiative aimed at strengthening the local dairy industry while advancing community nutrition across the province.
In a recent press briefing, Provincial Information Officer Rudy S. Jimenea confirmed the plan.
He shared that additional funding, livestock, and equipment support are anticipated to further enhance the province’s dairy initiatives.
“We are still expecting additional funding and other support in terms of equipment. Hopefully, we can reach that level. On the nutrition program side, this will greatly help improve the nutritional status of our children,” Jimenea added.
Dr. Kelvin Lucena, DVM, Veterinarian IV, Animal Research and Laboratory Division Head, emphasized the province’s goal of making South Cotabato more competitive in the dairy sector.
“We also want to improve the animal production and processing center,” Lucena said.
He also revealed that the current processing site has been maximized, and the province is now looking to expand operations to other areas to accommodate increasing demand and further progress.
“In terms of milk, we plan to increase the amount of milk we collect and process so we can serve more people. Once we have enough land area, we’ll be able to do it,” he explained.
Lucena also noted that the APDC has been introduced as one of the extension arms to help deliver technical and operational services for dairy processing and production.
The expansion plan is seen as a strategic move that aligns with the province’s continuous efforts to strengthen its agricultural programs, enhance food security, and promote child nutrition through locally produced, high-quality milk products.
“A bottle of dairy milk produced in the APDC is enough for the daily nutrient consumption of every child beneficiary,” Lucena added.
In 2024, APDC produced 600 bottles of dairy milk. In one liter of cow’s milk collected every day, the center produced three bottles of 30 ml.
