The Department of Agriculture (DA) has bid out the Ubay Dairy Project to two groups as it seeks to fast-track the implementation of the banner dairy program which was conceptualized to establish Bohol as the country’s dairy capital.

Piñol who was in Tagbilaran City last week for the relaunching of the Bohol Fish Market and TienDA said that he recently signed documents allowing  ACDI Multipurpose Cooperative, a farmer’s group managed by retired military men, and AFIMilk, an Israeli firm based in Vietnam, to bid for the dairy project.

“Sa mga nangutana kung aha na tong gatas ni Piñol, dia ra. Di man gud ni dali kay naa tay bidding process ani…But groups who want to implement the project will have to compete with each other through bidding,” he said.

The DA is seeking to raise the dairy-cow population in Ubay by importing 6,000 heads of Holstein and Girolando dairy cattle by 2022.

“Expectedly by next year, mo-abot na tong una na 2,000 heads sa baka diri sa Ubay, Bohol,” said Piñol, noting that the project will have three phases wherein each includes the import of 2,000 dairy cows.

Piñol projected that construction of facilities will start before the year ends after the bidding phase is completed.

According to Jo-Anne Cecille Biscocho, ACDI head of education and training, negotiations between the organization and the DA were still ongoing.

“We are still in the initial negotiation with DA for the Ubay Project. Nothing has been agreed upon yet but ACDI is looking forward for this possible joint partnership with DA,” said Biscocho.

It was earlier noted that the dairy project will be implemented at the government-owned, 3,000-hectare Ubay Stock Farm in Barangay Lomangog, Ubay. (AD)