As part of the national carabao upgrading program, the PCC entrusted 25 female dairy buffaloes worth ₱2 million to the Ka-Saka Sustainable Livelihood Program Association (SLPA) in Barangay San Marcelino on July 24. This latest turnover expands the community’s total herd to 54 dairy buffaloes, following an earlier entrustment of 29 animals to the award-winning Timpuyog de San Marcelino SLPA.

The program operates under a social contract requiring farmers’ associations to maintain the original breeding stock while building herd scale through offspring. To ensure long-term operational success, the PCC provides comprehensive pre-turnover training in dairy buffalo management and feeding, alongside ongoing technical guidance and herd monitoring.

To guarantee stable, recurring income for rural producers, the PCC directly purchases raw carabao milk from participating farmers and connects them with institutional buyers and government-sponsored feeding initiatives. These guaranteed channels supply the Department of Education’s School-Based Feeding Program and DSWD’s Supplementary Feeding Program, giving smallholders reliable cash flow that complements traditional rice farming.