ILOILO – The National Dairy Authority (NDA) is ramping up efforts to strengthen the country’s dairy sector with the construction of its second feed center in the Philippines, a project expected to lower feed costs and significantly improve animal milk production for local farmers.
The facility, to be built on a three-hectare lot donated by the local government in Barangay Guinobatan, New Lucena, Iloilo, aims to address one of the industry’s most persistent challenges — high and unstable prices of commercial feeds that limit productivity and profitability.
A groundbreaking ceremony for the project was held on March 17, attended by NDA administrator Atty. Marcus Antonius Andaya, NDA Western Visayas Acting Department Manager Vicenter Bitolinamisa III, and New Lucena’s Mayor Carl Vincent Mondejar.
The feed center is designed to produce and distribute affordable, high-quality dairy feed while also housing the NDA’s regional office to enhance service delivery and strengthen field operations across Western Visayas.
According to Andaya, the agency is scaling up investments to strengthen the local dairy industry and reduce dependence on imported milk.
“The NDA will continue to assist dairy farmers in increasing both the volume and quality of milk for our communities,” he said in his keynote address.
Andaya emphasized that the Iloilo facility is only the second NDA feed center in the country, with seven more planned nationwide as part of a broader strategy to improve productivity, stabilize input costs, and enhance food security.
Meanwhile, according to Bitolinamisa, the project directly addresses the financial strain faced by small-scale dairy producers.
“We aim to make dairy feed available, nearby, and accessible for smallholder farmers,” he said.
“The prices of commercial feeds in the market make it difficult for farmers to sustain operations and earn a profit.”
He explained that many farmers are trapped in a cycle where they need higher milk output to afford feed, but inadequate nutrition prevents them from increasing production.
The project also includes the establishment of a new NDA regional office, which is expected to provide a more conducive workspace for personnel and ensure faster delivery of technical assistance, training, and enterprise support.
For Mondejar, the project is expected to generate both economic and social benefits for New Lucena.
“Hosting a national agency can boost our local economy and create more opportunities for our people,” he said.
He added that the NDA’s presence will complement existing programs of the Department of Social Welfare and Development for feeding initiatives, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority for skills training, and potential partnerships with the private sector./PN
