Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar visited the Palcon Dairy Multi-Purpose Cooperative in Sariaya, Quezon to check the ongoing establishment of a P19.9-M dairy multiplier farm, a subproject of the Investment in Rural Enterprises and Agriculture and Fisheries Productivity (I-REAP) component of the Department of Agriculture’s Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP), June 24.

The subproject, which was approved by the DA-PRDP in 2017, aims to develop the dairy cattle industry in the CALABARZON Region by producing breeder animals with high milking performance and increase the number of animal herds by 35%.

Moreover, it targets to improve Palcon’s milk production by 10%, resulting in a 5% income increase for the cooperative’s 81 members.

The interventions provided under the component amounting to P14.6M include:

• 50 heads of pregnant heifers;
• unit of tractor;
• 1 multicab as a collection and delivery vehicle;
• 4 units of portable milking machines;
• 10 milking cans;
• 1 cooling tank with a capacity of 1,000 liters each;
• materials for forage development;
• Cow shed;
• Calving pen;
• Milking parlor; and
• 6-month worth of concentrates and biologics.

The remaining P5.3 M funding was provided by Palcon as the proponent group.

Currently, the dairy multiplier farm has reached 95.59% financial accomplishment and 78.49% physical accomplishment.

Secretary Dar was welcomed by Palcon founder Teodoro Panaligan, Quezon Provincial Veterinary Officer Dr. Flomella Caguicla, Sariaya Municipal Administrator Ronan Nantes, members of the Palcon Dairy MPC, and staff from local government units. ### (Krystelle Ymari A. Vergara, DA-AFID)