By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos | Philippine News Agency
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Friday expressed optimism that the inauguration of the Farm Fresh Milk Plant in San Simon, Pampanga, will help increase the local production and supply of dairy products in the country.
In a ceremony at the Global ASEANA Business Park 2 in San Simon town, Marcos Jr. led the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Farm Fresh Milk Plant Building 2.
Marcos also inspected the various facilities of the production plant at Building 3, including the mixing, pasteurization, bottle labeling, filling, and packaging areas.
In his speech, Marcos Jr. said he wants the Philippines to become less dependent on imported dairy products, noting that the new dairy farm will facilitate the streamlined processing of dairy production in the country.
“Ang paglaki at pag-develop ng ating kabataan ay nakasalalay sa tamang nutrisyon, kabilang na dito ang galing sa gatas. Ang industriya ng pagkain, ng manufacturing ay nanggagaling din ng gatas para sa produksyon ng mga tinapay, panghimagas at iba pang mga delicacy,” he said.
“Sa pagpapasinaya natin ng Farm Fresh Milk Inc. Plant, lagi nating tiyakin ang karagdagang lokal na produksyon at suplay ng gatas sa bansa,” Marcos Jr. added.
Marcos Jr. also expressed gratitude to Farm Fresh Milk, Inc. for its efforts to boost local production of dairy products.
He said the inauguration of the dairy processing plant would provide more livelihood opportunities for local farmers and farm workers.
“With the Farm Fresh Milk [Plant], we are open, and we are looking forward to a much larger supply of fresh milk for our people. But of course, I was very excited when we heard that there is a Phase 2,” Marcos Jr. said.
Stressing the importance of the dairy sector in the Philippines, Marcos Jr. said the new plant is expected to produce 32 million liters of pasteurized milk and over 2.4 million liters of yogurt annually.
“Bukod sa epektibong produksyon, magbibigay din ito ng mas magandang kinabukasan para sa ating kababayan. None of this would have been possible without the consistent support of Farm Fresh in our collective aspiration to boost our local production of dairy.”
Farm Fresh Milk is the Philippine subsidiary of Farm Fresh Berhad, a Malaysian dairy company.
Its manufacturing operations started in San Simon, Pampanga in August 2024, offering a range of popular milk and yogurt products, along with plant-based options like soy, almond, and oat milk.
This dairy processing plant in San Simon town allows the company to supply ready-to-drink chilled products, ultra-high-temperature products, and milk powders to major retail outlets and cafes in the Greater Manila area.
