SCIENCE CITY OF MUÑOZ (PIA) — More local farmers may benefit from improved access to government procurement opportunities as the Philippine Carabao Center (PCC) strengthens its implementation of the Sagip Saka Act and support for the National Milk Feeding Program.
The initiative aims to support closer linkages between farmers’ cooperatives and associations (FCAs) and government feeding programs through the direct sourcing of locally produced milk, while supporting child nutrition and rural livelihoods.
As part of efforts to strengthen implementation, PCC personnel participated in a two-day orientation workshop held at the agency’s National Headquarters in the Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija.
This focused on Republic Act 12009 or the New Government Procurement Act, Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) modernization, and Republic Act 11321 or the Sagip Saka Act.
According to PCC, the workshop covered procurement mechanisms under the Sagip Saka Act, including negotiated procurement procedures, documentary requirements, and contract management, while facilitating direct market linkages between FCAs and government feeding programs.
Participants included PCC regional center directors, procurement focal persons, Sagip Saka processors from regional centers, procurement personnel, members of the Bids and Awards Committee from the national headquarters, and regional cooperative enterprise development and milk feeding coordinators.
During the activity, PCC Procurement Head Noemi Balais shared best practices in market scoping, processing, and monitoring in the preparation of the Project Procurement Management Plan.
Department of Agriculture (DA) officials also led sessions on the Sagip Saka Act framework and processes.
DA Assistant Secretary for High-Value Crops Joycel Panlilio, for her part, emphasized that the Sagip Saka Act promotes direct sourcing from local farmers and fisherfolk, helping ensure more stable markets and improved livelihoods in rural communities.
Overall, the initiative aligns with PCC’s role in the School-Based Feeding Program–Milk Component, which seeks to utilize locally produced milk to help improve child nutrition and support the country’s dairy sector.
This contributed to the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. in boosting local food production systems and advancing the country’s food security agenda through improved nutrition programs and stronger farmer linkages. (CLJD/MAECR, PIA Region 3-Nueva Ecija)