The National Dairy Authority is pushing to expand its dairy development program to Romblon, aiming to establish local milk production and strengthen supply for government feeding initiatives.

NDA Administrator Marcus Antonius T. Andaya met with Romblon Congressman Eleandro Jesus F. Madrona and 14 of the province’s 17 mayors to discuss plans for rolling out dairy projects in their respective municipalities.

Andaya said developing a local dairy industry would help ensure a more reliable supply of fresh milk while creating livelihood opportunities for farmers and improving nutrition for women and children. He emphasized that children, mothers, and farmers stand to benefit from the program.

Local officials expressed interest in using idle lands for dairy farming and corn silage production to support a year-round feed supply.

The expansion is partly driven by rising demand from the Department of Education (DepEd) milk feeding program, which has doubled its beneficiaries to 4.6 million learners for 2026.

The NDA said it will coordinate with participating local government units to identify suitable sites and provide technical assistance and training to prospective dairy farmers.

In 2025, local milk production reached 43.4 million liters, raising the country’s milk sufficiency rate to 2.22 percent.production because demand for fresh milk is increasing. Government partners such as the DepEd and other institutions are now looking to source local milk, while local chief executives also want milk for their own feeding programs,” Andaya said.

The NDA said it will coordinate with participating local government units to identify suitable sites and provide technical assistance and training to prospective dairy farmercountry’s milk sufficiency rate to 2.22 percent.