NATION

₱4.7-M milk supply sought for Mindoro schools

Nearly 189,000 packs of carabao's milk targeted for school feeding program

Josephine D. Escovidal · Oct 17, 2026, 1:42 PM

A carabao readies to wallow at a rice paddy in Bagac, Bataan. The DA–Philippine Carabao Center at Central Luzon State University (CLSU) is providing on-the-job training to Bachelor of Science in Food Technology students from the Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology. The training provides hands-on experience in milk processing, proper milk handling, and microbiological analysis, equipping them with valuable knowledge and practical skills essential for their future careers in the field. — Jonas Reyes

ORIENTAL MINDORO — The Philippine Carabao Center (PCC) is seeking suppliers for 188,724 packs of locally produced carabao's milk worth ₱4.72 million for the Department of Education's school feeding program in Oriental Mindoro.

A government procurement notice published on 16 October 2026 shows that the purchase has an approved budget of ₱4,718,100, equivalent to ₱25 for each 200-milliliter pack of pasteurized carabao's milk.

The milk supply is intended for the DepEd Schools Division of Oriental Mindoro, with deliveries scheduled over a three-month period.

The procurement is being undertaken through the Sagip Saka negotiated procurement mechanism, which allows qualified agricultural producers and organizations to participate in government purchases under applicable rules.

The arrangement could provide market opportunities for dairy farmers and cooperatives while supporting the government's school nutrition initiatives.

However, the procurement documents have yet to establish whether dairy producers based in Oriental Mindoro will supply the milk or how many public schoolchildren will benefit from the distribution.

The PCC has set 21 October 2026 at 9 a.m. as the deadline for submitting offers under procurement reference PR 2026-10-1900.

As of the published procurement notice, no contract award or notice to proceed had been listed.

The purchase remains in the supplier selection stage, with the final supplier, participating schools and distribution arrangements still to be determined.

The procurement highlights the potential role of government school feeding programs in creating markets for agricultural products while addressing the nutritional needs of public schoolchildren.