University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB)
On 13 February 2018, the Board Members of Rosario Dairy Raisers' Association (RODRA) in Batangas and General Trias Dairy Raisers' Multi-Purpose Cooperative (GENTRI) in Cavite signed the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) at SEARCA Residence Hotel in Los Baños, Laguna.
The MOA details the responsibilities among SEARCA, PCC, and cooperative beneficiaries. It also specified clauses about the equipment, supplies, tools, and vehicles that the cooperatives will receive as assistance to the enterprise development project titled Forage Conservation and Milk Handling Support for Resilient Carabao-Based Dairy Enterprise in Region IV-A, which aims to have available quality feeds throughout the year to improve the reproductive condition of the animals for consistent production and supply of raw milk and to ensure quality level of milk production, collection and distribution to install a quality-based pricing scheme.
To address the need, RODRA and GENTRI, with a total of 500 farmer-members, shall be provided with motorcycles with sidecars, milk analyzers, milk cans, forage cutter, and ice candy maker amounting to PHP 980,907.13.
The partial distribution of items, including motorcycles with sidecars and milk analyzers, is on 23 February 2018.
Ubay Stock Farm (USF)
Bohol Dairy Cooperative (BODACO) earlier signed the MOA with SEARCA and PCC on 9 November 2017 for the project titled Provision of Equipment and Materials to Bohol Dairy Outlet (The Dairy Box – Bohol), which aims to provide the growing market demand for milk in the Chocolate Hills Tourism Highway.
On 15 February 2018, BODACO at The Dairy Box-Bohol already received the initial items, which include one stainless table, four tables, two side tables and chairs, two upright chillers, two chest type freezers, one unit of an 18-plate capacity oven, 48 stainless plates and one air conditioning unit. The remaining items, such as gelato ice cream maker, soft ice cream machine, heavy duty mixer and teller machine, will be given later in April 2018.
Ms. Nancy M. Landicho, Program Specialist and Officer-in-Charge of the SEARCA Project Development and Technical Services (PDTS), presented SEARCA's thrust on inclusive and sustainable agricultural rural development (ISARD) and discussed how the Center provides technical assistance to achieve its goals of ensuring growth and development in the agriculture sector, through projects funded by international organizations, as well as Philippine government agencies, such as the PCC-funded project support to carabao-based cooperatives.
Ms. Guillerma Abay-abay, PCC USF Carabao-based Enterprise Development (CBED) Coordinator, encouraged the farmer beneficiaries to take this opportunity to earn more. She hopes that, through hard work and unity of the cooperative members, their quality of lives will continue to improve.
SEARCA and PCC's efforts were recognized by BODACO during the turnover ceremony and were both given Certificates of Appreciation. Ms. Lita Aranas, BODACO Chair, said they are very grateful to SEARCA and PCC, "never in my wildest dream that we will receive such blessings and now it is realized." She added that they will give their best to take care of the equipment they received so that the next generation can still use it. Meanwhile, Ms. Jesusa Danila, BODACO Vice-Chair, mentioned that they will work hard to increase their income through the equipment provided.
Other representatives from SEARCA during the awarding ceremony include Ms. Sarah Grace Quiñones, Project Coordinator, and Ms. Elma M. Banzuela, Purchasing Assistant.
On 1 March 2018, partial distribution of items for Lamac Multi-Purpose Cooperative (The Dairy Box – Cebu) will be held at Pinamungajan, Lamac, Cebu. SEARCA will be represented by Ms. Landicho, Ms. Quinones, and Ms. Marie Cris P. Mendoza, Property and Supply Assistant. PCC USF will be represented by its Center Director, Dr. Caro Salces. Ms. Guillerma Abay-abay will facilitate the Awarding Ceremony. (Sarah Grace L. Quinones)