DAIRY FAIR. The National Dairy Authority celebrates World Milk Day at the Bureau of Animal and Industry compound in Diliman, Quezon City on Friday (May 31, 2024), graced by Department of Agriculture Undersecretary for Livestock Deogracias Victor Savellano (center). Data showed milk production has grown by 65 percent — from 17 million liters in 2018 to 28 million liters in 2023. (Photo by Ben Briones)
WORLD MILK DAY. The public and private sectors come together to highlight the health benefits of drinking milk and the fight against hunger and malnutrition during a forum to mark World Milk Day at the Asian Institute of Management Conference Center in Makati City on Thursday (May 30, 2024). Department of Agriculture Assistant Secretary for Ruminant Livestock Benjamin Albarece; Institute of Human Nutrition and Food director Prof. Liezel Atienza and Dairy Training and Research Institute director Dr. Menandro Loresco of the University of the Philippines-Los Baños, Laguna; Department of Education – Bureau of Learner Support Services-School Health Division senior education program specialist/supervising health program officer-in-charge Magdalene Cariaga; and marketing director Estela Grace Estacio of forum host Alaska Milk Corporation were the event speakers. (Photo by Ben Briones)
CEREMONIAL TOAST: From right; National Dairy Authority (NDA) Officer-In-Charge Atty. Gavino Alfredo Benitez, Department of Agriculture (DA) Asisstant Secretary for Ruminant Livestock Benjamin Albarece, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Netherlands to the Philippines Mariella Geraedts, Alaska Milk Corporation (AMC) Marketing Director Estela Grace Estacio, UPLB-Dairy Training and Research Institute Dr. Menandro M. Loresco, Department of Education (DepEd), Bureau of Learner Support Services-School Health Division Senior Education Program Specialist/OIC, Supervising Health Program Officer Magdalene Cariaga, University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) Director, Institute of Human Nutrition and Food Prof. Liezel Atienza, and AMC Corporate and Legal Affairs Director Atty. Cashmere Dirampaten in the ceremonial toast using cows milk in the celebration of World Milk Day which centered on the theme “Celebrating the Goodness of Dairy,” held at the Aisian Institute of Management (AIM) Conference Center in Makati City on Thursday (May 30, 2024). “As of 2023, the Philippines produced approximately 18,000 metric tons of milk, accounting for about 0.8% of the country’s total milk consumption of 1.937 million metric tons. Increasing local milk production is seen as a strategy to promote food security, help solve malnutrition and increase the income of farmers in the dairy sector,” shared NDA OIC Administrator Benitez, during his keynote speech. “Through meaningful collaboration with various sectors, we see a clear path towards accelerating the development of the Philippine dairy industry,” added DA Assistant Secretary Albarece. Milk and dairy products help diversify the diet and can benefit both nutritionally vulnerable people and healthy people when consumed in appropriate amounts. (Photo by Ben Briones)
