ICOPED Project Drives Gender-Inclusive Research for the Philippine Dairy Industry

The Institute of Cooperatives and Bio-Enterprise Development (ICOPED), with funding support from the Department of Science and Technology–Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development, is nearing the completion of its research project, "The Role of Gender and Collective Action in Unlocking the Potential of the Philippine Dairy Industry." 

Using a participatory gender research approach, the study examines the roles, opportunities, and challenges of women and men across the dairy value chain. It explores how collective action through cooperatives can contribute to a more inclusive, resilient, and sustainable dairy industry.

Led by Assistant Professor Maria Theresa M. Castro, together with project staff Dr. Karen Q. Custodio, Mr. Emmanuel C. Flores, and Ms. Lianne Maxine Tabanggay, the project runs from 1 April 2025 to 30 September 2026. 

To date, the project has conducted nationwide field activities, including surveys, key informant interviews, and focus group discussions involving 22 dairy cooperatives and 15 provincial and local government representatives across 10 provinces. These activities generated valuable insights into gender dynamics, cooperative participation, and institutional support within the dairy sector.

Beyond field research, the project has actively engaged stakeholders through knowledge-sharing initiatives. Initial findings were presented during the Women Empowerment and Leadership in Agriculture, Aquatic, and Natural Resources 2026 Conference held in March, highlighting gender roles, shared responsibilities, and leadership in dairy farming. 

In May, the project also organized a Gender Sensitivity Webinar themed "Kaya ng Lalaki, Kaya rin ng Babae!", which attracted more than 800 registered participants nationwide and emphasized the importance of gender mainstreaming in dairy development. 
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Since June 2025, series of focus group discussions were conducted under the theme "Her Voice, His Voice: Shared Roles and Leadership in Dairy Farming" further captured the lived experiences of cooperative members and informed the study's emerging recommendations.

As the project's culminating activity, ICOPED will organize the National Dissemination cum Validation Workshop themed “Working Together, Growing Together: Advancing the Philippines Dairy Sector” on 7 August 2026 in Pasay City, Metro Manila. Convening representatives, stakeholders and agencies, dairy cooperatives, academia, development organizations, and the private sector, the workshop will present the project's key findings, validate the results with stakeholders, and gather inputs for refining policy and program recommendations.

With data cleaning and statistical analysis nearing completion, the project is on track to deliver gender-responsive and evidence-based recommendations that will contribute to stronger cooperative governance, more inclusive dairy policies, and a more competitive Philippine dairy industry.

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MTMCastro & LLPayumo