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First milk processing plant in Iloilo breaks ground
Tigbauan, Iloilo (29 July 2005) -- The first ever Milk Processing Plant in the province of Iloilo had its ground breaking in ceremonies held at the Tigbauan National High School Grounds, July 29.

The proposed site is part of the eight hectares lot occupied by the high school, lent by the Sayco Family, for use as long as the processing plant needs it.

Tigbauan National High School Principal Mrs. Lira T. Casenas said that more or less 300 pre-school 3rd degree malnourished children including those in the Grade I will benefit from it.

Mrs. Lira added that with the construction of the plant, processing of fresh milk will be a lot easier. The temporary processing plant is housed in a classroom in Bgy. Cordova, Tigbauan through a cooperative.

The milking cows were imported from Switzerland more than a year ago, and distributed to dairy farmer-beneficiaries.

National Dairy Authority (NDA) Administrator Salvacion Bulatao said that despite their slow entrance in introducing milk processing in Iloilo province, she was pleased to note that the initial 9 cows distributed has increased to 216 animals tended by 65 dairy farmers.

The actual beginning of Iloilo Milk Processing started in a residence in Bgy. Amurang, Leon, Iloilo, on borrowed facilities. The Iloilo Provincial Government gave financial assistance to the project, until a simple processing plant was set up in Tigbauan in February 2004,

The Iloilo Federation of Cooperatives (IFEDCO), through their Chairperson, Mr. Profetiso Cambronero, said that the plant is serving the needs of about 1,460 malnourished children in Iloilo and Guimaras, and has provided sources of income for the dairy farmers themselves.

Cambronero said that the ground breaking for the putting up of the Milk Processing Plant is a big leap towards the development of the dairy industry in the province. He thanked Iloilo Governor Neil Tupas for the 2 million pesos assistance in the construction of the building and initial facilities. He also acknowledged the training assistance of the National Dairy authority, as he pledged in behalf of the members of the cooperatives, to keep working hard for a malnourished-free community.

The Memorandum of Agreement which was signed during the ceremony for the ground breaking, includes provisions that the 2 million assistance for the construction of the building is a loan payable in 25 years without interest. Further the Department of Public highways will provide engineering assistance and the Cooperative Development division will help install organizational and financial structure.

The ground breaking was attended by local government officials led by Iloilo Governor Niel Tupas, Provincial Agriculturist Inocencio Parian, Tigbauan OIC Mayor Agaton Tumabotabo, the Provincial Health Office led by Dr. Patricia Trabado and the Provincial Planning and Development Office, with Mr. Mario Nillos. (PIA-6)

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