Quezon City, Philippines – Metro Pacific Agro Ventures (MPAV) CEO Jovy Hernandez and National Dairy Authority (NDA) Administrator Atty. Marcus Antonius T. Andaya recently met at the NDA Central Office to explore potential collaborations aimed at strengthening the country’s local dairy sector.
MPAV, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Metro Pacific Investments Corporation (MPIC), has been at the forefront of the dairy industry with a 51% stake in Carmen’s Best and Holly’s Milk. In August 2024, MPAV also acquired Universal Harvester Dairy Farms Inc. (UHFDI) in Bukidnon.
The company is also constructing a state-of-the-art dairy facility in Bay, Laguna, in partnership with Israel’s LR Group, designed to produce six million liters of milk annually.
“We are serious about working with the NDA to improve the state of our local dairy industry. Our children and grandchildren deserve nutritious and fresh local milk and dairy products,” said Hernandez. He emphasized the importance of raising awareness about the nutritional benefits of milk among consumers.
Atty. Andaya outlined the NDA’s strategic roadmap to increase the country’s milk sufficiency from the current 1.5% to 5% by 2028. This plan includes expanding the national dairy herd, boosting milk yields, creating demand, raising public awareness, and increasing farmers’ incomes.
“The MPIC’s entry into the dairy industry signals a positive shift. If a conglomerate of this scale is investing in dairy, it shows there’s tremendous potential. With 99% of our milk still imported, there’s a massive market opportunity,” said Andaya.
Hernandez echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the need for cooperation across all levels of the dairy industry: “If small, medium, and large-scale dairy enterprises work together, we can make a significant impact on addressing the country’s dependency on imports.”
During the meeting, Atty. Andaya shared the NDA’s plans to grow the national dairy herd through stock farms, multiplier farms, and nucleus farms. He explained that imported cattle would be acclimatized at stock farms before their offspring are distributed to multiplier farms and eventually to farmer beneficiaries.
The NDA is set to construct five stock farms across key locations: General Tinio in Nueva Ecija, Ubay in Bohol, Malaybalay in Bukidnon, Carmen in Cotabato, and Prosperidad in Agusan del Sur.
Currently, MPAV operates two farms: Universal Harvester Dairy Farms, Inc. in Bukidnon and The Laguna Creamery Inc. (TLCI). The company also sources milk from local farmers to support its operations. Looking ahead, MPAV aims to produce 10 million liters of milk daily, underscoring its commitment to revitalizing the local dairy sector.
“Collaboration is key,” said Atty. Andaya. “We welcome all forms of support, whether from the private sector, academia, or international partners, to help our dairy sector thrive.”
Metro Pacific Investments Corporation is a leading Philippine company with investments spanning power, toll roads, water, transportation, healthcare, real estate, and agribusiness. ### (By Ian Carlo Agbayani, DA-National Dairy Administration)
