Nat'l Dairy Authority welcomes first private partner in milk feeding program

The National Dairy Authority (NDA) welcomed ABI Pascual Foods, Inc. as its first partner from the private sector for its milk feeding program for school children.

The agency's Private Sector-Funded Milk Feeding Program also seeks to help dairy farmers and cooperatives to make their products accessible through school feeding initiatives.

"By mobilizing private-sector support, the program creates a more predictable market for locally produced milk while helping provide school children with access to nutritious dairy products," the NDA said in a statement.

Under the partnership, ABI Pascual will fund the milk feeding program for 504 students of Malitlit Elementary School in Sta. Rosa, Laguna for 100 days.

In the first 100 days of the program, P1.26 million worth of milk will be procured from Katipunan ng Kooperatibang Manggagatas, Inc. (KKMI).

The initiative is also in compliance with the Sagip Saka Act, which allows national and local government agencies to directly purchase agricultural and fishery products from accredited cooperatives.

"Connecting school feeding initiatives with direct local procurement under the Sagip Saka Act creates a win-win model for both child health and local agriculture," said NDA Administrator Marcus Antonius Andaya.

"Guaranteed demand from committed private-sector partners like ABI Pascual gives our dairy farmers the economic stability they need to be able to expand their herds and boost local production," he added.

To encourage more corporate participation, the NDA highlights that eligible donations to the program are exempt from Donor's Tax and qualify for 100% deductibility from gross income under a joint BIR-NDA administrative order.

According to the US Department of Agriculture, the production and consumption of ready-to-drink dairy milk in the Philippines is expected to rise by 2027 due to the increase in dairy herds and various demands, including the government's school feeding program. — VDV, GMA News