2024 National Dairy Summit to Tackle Gaps in PH Dairy Sector

By Mariela Angella Oladive

ILOILO CITY — The National Dairy Summit, set for October 28-30, will bring together stakeholders from across the Philippines at the Iloilo Convention Center to address key challenges in the country’s dairy value chain.

Organized by the Western Visayas Dairy Farmers and Stakeholders Agriventures Inc. in partnership with the National Dairy Authority (NDA), the summit aims to strengthen the local dairy industry and improve the country’s milk supply. The event comes at a time when the Philippines continues to rely heavily on dairy imports.

During a press briefing on October 10, Vicente Bitolinamisa III, OIC Department Manager of NDA Western Visayas, stressed the need for cooperation among industry players to address the country’s low milk production.

“Dairy is one of the biggest imports in our country, with billions of dollars spent annually. Our self-sufficiency level is still minuscule, but we have already increased from 1 percent to 3 percent,” Bitolinamisa said.

The NDA aims to further boost local milk production, targeting 5% self-sufficiency within the next three to five years. This goal includes a 4.4 billion-liter dairy output by 2028. Bitolinamisa emphasized the importance of the summit in identifying gaps in the dairy value chain and finding solutions.

“The aim of this summit is to lay bare the gaps in the dairy value chain so that stakeholders can see what needs to be done to address these gaps and achieve the necessary dynamism in the dairy industry,” he added. “Our dairy industry is still in its infancy, and we still have a lot to learn and explore.”

Western Visayas ranks third in dairy production nationwide, generating about 2.2 million liters of milk annually from a herd of 10,600 animals. Ian Caro Agbayani, NDA Information Officer IV, praised the region’s progress and expressed optimism for its potential as a model for other provinces.

“We are very pleased with Western Visayas. The region has shown promising performance, and we hope to replicate this success in other areas,” Agbayani said.

He added that provincial initiatives are key to achieving national milk sufficiency, and he hopes the summit will foster networking among stakeholders to exchange best practices.

With the theme “Advancing DAIRYpreneurship, Innovation, Nutrition, Sustainability, and Food Security,” the summit will feature discussions on enhancing production and efficiency in the dairy sector. Experts from both local and international fields will provide insights on trends and best practices, while exhibits will showcase products and technologies aimed at improving the industry.

Registration for the event is now open, with a fee of PHP 5,000 per participant, covering meals, summit kits, and participation certificates.

For inquiries, interested parties can contact the summit secretariat at +63916 600 6619.