Asingan's dairy products thrive amid pandemic
The municipality of Asingan in Pangasinan province is known for its rice and vegetable products and loom weaving industries. An addition to that edge is that it is naturally rich in dairy products that come from carabao’s milk.
However, as all businesses took a backseat during the quarantine and lockdown period, customers could not travel to buy their products.
Thus, the Bantog Samahang Nayon Multi-Purpose Cooperative (BSNMPC) together with the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) - Pangasinan (DAR), thought of ways to address the issue.
“DAR helps our agrarian reform beneficiaries find solutions to market the products of the cooperatives. We talk with with possible buyers and help them improve their services, ” said Provincial Agrarian Reform Officer Anna Bernardo Francisco.
This group of locally successful beneficiaries known for The Dairy Box got a boost with the turn-over of equipment from Senator Cynthia Villar, chairperson on the Senate Committee on Environment and Agriculture. These equipment include 150 pieces of icebox, eight chest freezers, and three chillers.
“The equipment will greatly boost the group’s storage capacity,” said Francisco.
And true enough, in August, the DAR ARBO became the official supplier of fresh carabao milk packs in public schools in the sixth district of Pangasinan.
During the quarantine period, it also came up with a new product, the milky bread product called ‘milky bun’.
The bakery currently has 11 types of bread. Pandesal, spanish bread, ensaymada, pan de coco, and toasted bread are also available in The Dairy Box Bakery. There are also varieties of bread filling.
With the innovation, sheer determination and help of everyone, the Bantog cooperative now earns over P1-million weekly amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Cooperative chairperson Rolly Mateo said The Dairy Box and milky bun have greatly improved the lives of his fellow farmers and the coop employees, who are mostly solo parents, 4Ps beneficiaries, and out-of-school youth.
Not only did the group utilize its existing product but also provided a stable income for its members in light of the pandemic.
The various problems and trials in life are not permanent. For this group, the trial has become a blessing. (JCR/JPD/RPM, PIA Pangasinan)
