ICOPED Convenes Dairy Stakeholders to Validate DOST-PCAARRD-funded Gender Research Project on PH Dairy Industry

On September 4, 2026, ICOPED organized the National Dissemination cum Validation Workshop themed “Working Together, Growing Together: Advancing the Philippine Dairy Sector” in Pasay City, Manila, as part of the DOST-PCAARRD-funded project led by Asst. Prof. Maria Theresa M. Castro. The workshop featured a presentation of the project's key results, a panel discussion with local cooperatives engaged in dairy farming, a roundtable discussion with government and non-government institutions, and an intervention mapping activity. 

The workshop was attended by representatives from 20 government and non-government institutions. The participating cooperatives were Samahang Maggagatas ng Batangas Cooperative (SAMABACO), The Rosario Livestock and Agriculture Farming Cooperative (TRLAFCO), Ruminant Raisers of San Antonio, Quezon Agriculture Cooperative, Belison Multipurpose Cooperative (BMPC), Hamtic Multipurpose Cooperative (HMPC), Calinog Farmers Agriculture Cooperative (CFAC), Bukidnon Tagoloanon Mulahay Ha Kabukalagan Agriculture Cooperative (BUKTAMACO), Inyam Pintuan Asbang Multipurpose Cooperative (IPAMCO), Pangi Multipurpose Cooperative (PAMULCO), and Sta. Cruz Multipurpose Cooperative (SCMPC). 

Government agencies were represented by the Department of Trade and Industry - Nueva Ecija Provincial Office, Department of Agriculture - Agricultural Training Institute (DA-ATI), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), online participants from Philippine Carabao Center (PCC), and National Dairy Authority (NDA). Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK) joined from the financing sector, while research and development organizations included the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR), Southeast Asian Regional Center for Agriculture Graduate Study and Research (SEARCA), and DOST-PCAARRD, and academic institutions including UPLB College of Agriculture and Food Science (CAFS) and UPLB Dairy Training and Research Institute (DTRI). The workshop was held primarily to validate the results of the DOST-PCAARRD- funded project titled "The Role of Gender and Collective Action in Unlocking the Potential of the Philippine Dairy Industry."

The workshop opened with messages of support from UPLB Chancellor Jose V. Camacho Jr. and CEM Dean Dr. Ma. Angeles O. Catelo, who both emphasized the importance of grounding research in the lived experiences and realities of stakeholders on the ground. This was followed by a presentation of the project's key results by Project Leader Asst. Prof. Maria Theresa M. Castro. She presented the persistent barriers women face in accessing resources, financing, and leadership opportunities across the dairy value chain, underscoring the need for stronger investment in education and capacity building, as well as the integration of gender and collective action into national dairy policies. 

Building on these findings, the panel discussion with local cooperatives explored the successes, challenges, strategies, and opportunities shaped by gender dynamics within their organizations. Panelists noted how men and women experience cooperative membership differently, pointing to gender-specific hurdles in accessing resources, training, financing, and decision-making, as well as the collaborative strategies members have developed to address these challenges. Beyond gender dynamics, panelists also raised continuing concerns over dependence on institutional buyers, procurement challenges, and delayed payments, calling for more predictable markets for local dairy products, closer inter-agency coordination, and policies that better connect cooperatives to sustainable markets. Looking ahead, they identified key opportunities and ways to strengthen women's active participation in cooperative growth. 

During the roundtable discussion, government and non-government institutions shared their key achievements in supporting dairy farmers and cooperatives, along with the persistent barriers limiting program reach, particularly for women dairy farmers. Participants also discussed ongoing efforts to ensure equal access to services for both men and women, as well as opportunities to strengthen institutional support for inclusive growth in the Philippine dairy industry. This also provided a safe space for local cooperatives to raise their concerns. 

The workshop concluded with an intervention mapping activity that identified gaps, opportunities, and actionable recommendations to strengthen existing development initiatives, programs, and policies. Among the concrete measures proposed were improving local procurement through programs such as the National Feeding Program and the Sagip Saka Act, expanding access to agricultural credit and financial assistance, and developing shared processing facilities for cooperatives. These efforts also build on ongoing initiatives from DTRI, LandBank, DTI, DA-ATI, DSWD, and other institutions, which already provide training, financing, mentoring, and market support to help cooperatives strengthen their operations and apply new knowledge. 
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The workshop's insights and recommendations will help refine the project’s final result, guiding the development of more inclusive and gender-responsive programs and policies for the Philippine Dairy Industry. Through continued collaboration among cooperatives, government agencies, the private sector, and academic institutions, ICOPED and its partners aim to ensure that both women and men are equipped to contribute to and benefit from the sector's growth. 

MTMCastro, MPASCurioso, & KIHDuhapa