Sustainable Livelihood Program Boosts Carabao Milk Business in Davao Oriental

Thanks to the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP), a local group in Davao Oriental was able to expand its carabao milk business.

Based in Sitio Kapalaran, Barangay Don Enrique Lopez, Mati City, the Kapalaran Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Association (KARBENA) is now among the fastest growing local dairy products suppliers in the province. According to its president, Rhodora Datar, the SLP program has truly helped in transforming their group’s micro-enterprise!

DSWD SLP Carabao Milk Business Davao Oriental
Image Credit: dswd.gov.ph

Local Association Benefits from DSWD’s SLP Program

Maraming salamat sa DSWD at SLP. Sana kagaya namin, marami pa kayong matulungan (Thank you DSWD and SLP. We hope that you will be able to help many more groups like ours),” KARBENA president Rhodora Datar said, as cited in a DSWD press release.

In an interview, Rhodora talks about how KARBENA’s carabao milk business has grown from a struggling enterprise, to becoming one of Davao Oriental’s fastest-growing dairy products suppliers.

Experiencing Struggles in the Business

According to Rhodora, their group KARBENA, had encountered various challenges in the beginning. “Existing na po kami dati… kaya lang kapag grupo talaga, may mga hindrances talaga (Our group has been existing for a long time, but just like other groups, there have been many hindrances),” she explained.

Eventually, the local government provided KARBENA with a carabao, which could support their livelihood. However, the problem was that they had different goals, and were off the right track during their early years. Since the group did not have any technical expertise and long-term plans, all they could think of was harvesting carabao milk and selling it to anyone who was willing to buy it. In addition, they often disagreed on the terms and vision for the business.

Kulang kami sa kapital, capitalization ang problema namin (We lacked capital, capitalization was our problem),” Rhodora recalled. “Ang SLP, malaking tulong yon kasi marami ang kakulangan namin kagaya na lang ng refrigerator na siyang importante sa amin (The SLP program was a big help because it provided many things that we lacked, such as a refrigerator, which was important to us).”

Receiving Seed Capital from SLP

Through the SLP program, KARBENA received seed capital worth PHP 850,000. They used this to invest in a small milk collection center, where they store all their milk supplies. They also used the capital to buy five chest freezers and eight refrigerators.

Having the freezers and refrigerators, the group not only prevented wastage of their products. They were also able to expand their storage capacities, which, in turn — enabled them to scale up their business goals and partnerships.

Expanding and Upscaling the Business

Nag-bidding kami, sa LGU ng Davao Oriental at Mati (We joined the bidding at the LGUs of Davao Oriental and Mati),” Rhodora said. “Dalawa kaming nanalo. So, kami ang naging supplier ng mga gatas para sa feeding program. Yung Davao Oriental, PHP 4.8 million ang kontrata, sa Mati naman, PHP hp1.8 million (We were among two groups that won the bidding. We became a supplier of milk for the feeding program. The Davao Oriental contract was worth PHP 4.8 million, while the contract for Mati City was PHP 1.8 million).”

Moreover, through the SLP’s capacity building for micro businesses, Rhodora and her team participated in skills training, which enhanced their knowledge and skills in managing a microenterprise.

These days, the group’s business, KARBENA Dairy Box, offers carabao milk in different products and flavors. Aside from fresh milk, they now produce ice candies, popsicles, and ice creams. These are infused with a variety of flavors, including chocolate, strawberry, and ube (yam). This way, they are able to meet the different demands of the dairy products market and consumers’ preferences.

DSWD SLP Carabao Milk Business Davao Oriental
Image Credit: Karbena-Dairy Box of Mati City / Facebook

The Whole-of-Government Approach

Meanwhile, Mati City Mayor Michelle Rabat explained how the “whole-of-government” approach was able to reach and transform the mindset of KARBENA members.

Una, medyo naguluhan sila papaano, pero syempre farmers eh, hindi mo naman sila makita na corporate setup, pero sige lang, inalalayan sila ng lahat, tinulungan sila ng lahat (At first, they were confused with how to expand their business. Being farmers, they struggled to transform into a corporate setup. But many groups joined in to help and guide them),” Mayor Rabat stated.

Other than the DSWD, some of the government agencies that helped KARBENA were the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Department of Education (DepEd), and of course, the City Government of Mati.

“When they were able to collect the PHP 4.2 and PHP 1.8 million, nagpuntahan sa akin lahat at nagsabi, ‘Ma’am, hindi pala ganun kadali kumita ng milyon noh?’ Pero ang sarap ng feeling kapag nakita nila sa banko, kasi pinaghirapan nila ang pera nila (the group came to me and said, ‘Ma’am, it’s not easy to earn millions, right?’ But it’s a good feeling when they see their money in the bank, because they worked hard for it),” Mayor Rabat commented.

Thanking the DSWD for its Assistance

Aside from Rhodora, another KARBENA member, Grace Datar, expressed her gratitude to the DSWD for helping them. Grace is a mother of two children; her youngest child has Down Syndrome, and the group’s business helps her in meeting their daily needs.

Nagpapasalamat po ako sa gobyerno kasi tuloy-tuloy itong pag-gagatas namin (I am thankful to the government because our business is able to continue to operate),” Grace shared. She also added that these days, she is able to ask KARBENA for a cash advance when she needs it for her’s children’s urgent expenses.

Indeed, Rhodora, Grace, and other members of KARBENA consider their business as a huge opportunity made possible by the DSWD, together with other government agencies.

More About the SLP Program

The Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) is a community-based, capacity-building program of the DSWD. Its target beneficiaries are those who belong to poor, marginalized, and vulnerable households and communities. By providing seed capital, training, and other interventions, the SLP aims to help improve the socioeconomic status and build the capacities of its beneficiaries.

What’s more, the SLP boosts partnerships among local government agencies and other stakeholders. It is implemented via two main tracks, Micro-enterprise Development and Employment Facilitation.

Final Thoughts

The above story is proof that given the right training, plus support from different government agencies — local groups are capable of running and sustaining businesses. Congratulations to KARBENA and we wish you the best of luck in your carabao milk business!

Speaking of carabaos, this type of animal is definitely a big help to local communities! Last June 2024, the DSWD provided carabaos, along with livelihood grants to an Aeta community in Tarlac. Check out this article to learn more about their story!