NDA, ABI Pascual launch 100-day milk program for Laguna learners
The National Dairy Authority (NDA) on Tuesday (June 23, 2026) signed up its first private-sector partner for its milk-feeding initiative, marking a new approach to addressing child malnutrition while strengthening the country’s local dairy industry.
Under a multi-agency partnership formalized in Makati, ABI Pascual Foods Inc., the NDA, the Department of Education (DepEd), and the City Government of Sta. Rosa, Laguna will implement a 100-day milk-feeding program benefiting 500 learners at Malitlit Elementary School beginning September 2026.
The project falls under the NDA’s Private Sector-Funded Milk Feeding Program and makes ABI Pascual Foods the first private company to actively support and implement the agency’s milk-feeding initiatives at scale.
The beneficiaries, from Kindergarten to Grade 6, will receive daily milk servings for 100 days — a duration that aligns with the minimum period required for nutritional status evaluation, allowing agencies to monitor improvements in students’ growth and health outcomes.
The initiative comes as the Philippines continues to grapple with childhood malnutrition and nutrient deficiencies. Studies cited by the partners show that around 94 percent of Filipino children are calcium deficient, highlighting the need for sustained nutrition interventions during the formative years.
ABI Pascual Foods said the initiative goes beyond a one-time feeding activity and seeks to create long-term impact for both children and local agriculture.
“This program is about building a system that supports Filipino children’s nutrition in a sustained way,” said Michael G. Tan, ABI Pascual Foods Inc. Board Member. “We see this as a long-term investment in both child development and the local dairy industry, made possible through strong collaboration with government partners.”
For the NDA, the partnership demonstrates how nutrition programs can simultaneously create social and economic benefits.
“What makes this initiative meaningful is how it connects nutrition with local production,” said Atty. Marcus Antonius T. Andaya, Administrator of the National Dairy Authority. “By working with committed private sector partners, we are able to expand access to milk feeding programs while creating more stable opportunities for Filipino dairy farmers.”
Officials said milk-feeding initiatives not only improve children’s dietary intake but also help stimulate demand for locally produced milk, creating a more sustainable market for Filipino dairy farmers and strengthening the broader dairy value chain.
DepEd officials likewise underscored the link between proper nutrition and learning outcomes.
“When children are properly nourished, we see improvements not only in attendance but also in their ability to focus and learn,” said Hereberto Jose D. Miranda, School Division Superintendent of the Department of Education. “This program helps ensure that our learners are given the basic support they need to succeed in school and in life.”
The City Government of Sta. Rosa said sustained collaboration among national agencies, local governments, and private companies is crucial in addressing nutritional challenges at the community level.
“At the local level, nutrition is something we see and feel every day in our homes and classrooms,” said Sta. Rosa Mayor Arlene Arcillas. “We are grateful for this partnership because it helps ensure our children receive consistent nutritional support and strengthens the well-being of our community.”
The partners said the initiative is intended to serve as a model for future collaborations that link school-based feeding programs with support for Filipino dairy farmers, contributing to broader national goals of improving child nutrition, advancing local agriculture, and promoting long-term food security.
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