On Tuesday, June 16, San Miguel Corporation President (SMC) and Chief Operating Officer Ramon S. Ang released a statement saying that the company will buy excess carabao milk from dairy farmers from the Nueva Ecija Federation of Dairy Carabao Cooperative (NEFEDCCO) with the cooperation of the Philippine Carabao Center (PCC).

San Miguel Corporation was able to purchase a total of 5,000 liters of pasteurized carabao milk with the help of the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) Philippine Carabao Center (PCC) and is now aiming to distribute these to 5,000 beneficiaries (mostly for children, elders, and frontliners) from six cities and provinces in Luzon including across Pampanga, Bulacan, Navotas, Manila, Malabon, Cavite, Quezon, City, San Juan, and Mandaluyong.

“By buying their excess milk, we are hoping to help not only our farmers stay in business but also get these produce to food banks and communities,” SMC President and COO Ramon S. Ang said.

According to SMC, the reason why the company prompted to purchase these liters of milk was because the carabao dairy farmers were left with no choice but to dump their excess milk, as there were no consumers to buy it.

“It’s heartbreaking. There is so much excess milk that goes to waste, instead of getting them to where they are most needed. By buying their excess milk, we are hoping to help not only our farmers stay in business but also get these produce to food banks and communities to help address the growing food insecurity facing the poorest families,” said President Ramon S. Ang.

“We believe this will be a big help to many of our farmers, who are struggling and looking for ways and markets to sell their produce. At the same time, it will also help keep many of our less-fortunate citizens – children and the elderly – nourished and in good health,” he added.

As of May 13 (SMC’s latest update for their COVID-19 donation), the country’s largest corporation has already donated a total amount of P13.8 billion in response to COVID-19 in the Philippines. The donation has been distributed to different COVID-19 relief efforts such as liters of alcohol which was delivered to hospitals, canisters disinfectant powder, free toll for medical frontliners, emergency quarantine facilities to help the local hospitals.