President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Friday, October 3, led the inauguration of the Farm Fresh Milk Plant, underscoring the vital role of nutrition and local dairy production in nation-building.
“Ang paglaki at pag-develop ng ating kabataan ay nakasalalay sa tamang nutrisyon, kabilang na rito ang galing sa gatas,” the President said in his speech, highlighting how milk is essential not only for children’s health but also for the country’s food and manufacturing industries.
He added that the new facility ensures the growth of the local dairy sector, which supplies essential ingredients for bread, desserts, and other delicacies.
“Sa pagpapasinaya natin ng Farm Fresh Milk Inc. Plant, lagi nating tiyakin ang karagdagang lokal na produksyon at suplay ng gatas sa bansa,” Marcos stressed.
Beyond nutrition, the President emphasized that the project will also generate livelihood opportunities for Filipinos.
“Magbibigay ito ng mga oportunidad na magkaroon ng kabuhayan ang mga magsasaka at farm workers dito sa komunidad. Magbibigay rin ito ng mas magandang kinabukasan para sa ating kababayan,” he assured.
Marcos also extended his gratitude to Farm Fresh Milk, Inc. for its commitment to strengthening the country’s dairy industry.
“None of this would have been possible without the consistent support of Farm Fresh in our collective aspiration to boost our local production of dairy products. Through your efforts, more Filipino farmers, veterinarians, can now have a more stable and dignified job. So I hope you will continue to improve and expand your operations, bringing greater opportunities to our communities,” he said.
To complement these private sector initiatives, Marcos noted that the government is implementing the Dairy Industry Development program under Republic Act No. 7884, also known as the “National Dairy Authority Act.”
“Sa ilalim ng programang ito, nagpapahiram tayo ng puhunan sa ating mga magsasaka, nagbibigay tayo ng dairy animal, at nagsasagawa ng training mula sa dairy management at dairy husbandry hanggang sa breeding,” the President explained.
He added that the administration is also exploring ways to increase local milk production and attract more investments into the dairy industry, including partnerships with the private sector to extend support to farmers and workers.
Farm Fresh Milk is the Philippine subsidiary of Farm Fresh Berhad, a Malaysia-based dairy company. Its Pampanga operations in San Simon produce a variety of milk-based and plant-based products, including yogurt, soy, almond, and oat milk.