NATION

PCC to buy P4.7-M carabao’s milk

Josephine D. Escovidal · Oct 17, 2026, 11:36 PM

A MAN milks a carabao to produce fresh milk for local communities. The Philippine Carabao Center is seeking suppliers of locally produced carabao’s milk for the Department of Education’s school feeding program in Oriental Mindoro. — Photograph courtesy of Philippine Carabao Center

ORIENTAL MINDORO — The Philippine Carabao Center (PCC) is seeking suppliers for 188,724 packs of locally produced carabao’s milk worth P4.72 million for the Department of Education’s school feeding program in Oriental Mindoro.

A government procurement notice published 16 October listed an approved budget of P4,718,100, equivalent to P25 for each 200-milliliter pack of pasteurized carabao’s milk. Deliveries are scheduled over three months for the DepEd Schools Division of Oriental Mindoro.

The purchase 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 create market opportunities for dairy farmers and cooperatives while supporting school nutrition programs.

However, the procurement documents do not yet identify whether producers based in Oriental Mindoro will supply the milk or specify how many public schoolchildren will benefit.

The deadline for submitting offers is 21 October at 9 a.m., under procurement reference PR 2026-10-1900. As of the published notice, no contract award or notice to proceed had been listed.

The purchase remains at the supplier-selection stage, with the winning supplier, participating schools and distribution arrangements still to be determined.