July 3, 2025

  

Philippines' MPAV keen on buying another dairy farm

 

 

Philippine conglomerate Metro Pacific Agro Ventures (MPAV) is expanding its footprint in the dairy industry once again as MPAV Chairman Manny V. Pangilinan is setting his sights on buying out a dairy farm in Luzon this year.

 

"We are looking at another one up north in Luzon, in Nueva Ecija," Pangilinan said.

 

"I think it (the purchase of the cow dairy farm in Nueva Ecija) will be this year," he said.

 

This is the third time Pangilinan would buy a dairy farm after venturing into the industry in 2022 with the purchase of a controlling stake in The Laguna Creamery Inc. (TLCI), which produces popular brands Carmen's Best ice cream and Holly's Milk.

 

Last year, MPAV acquired 100 % of Universal Harvester Dairy Farms Inc. (UHDFI) in Bukidnon to boost the firm's milk supply and sustain the growing demand for TLCI's products.

 

The purchase of the cow dairy farm in Nueva Ecija will not only expand the firm's supply base but also ensure that its suppliers are strategically located across the country.

 

"We will have one farm in Mindanao, one in the middle of the country and another in Luzon," Pangilinan said.

 

However, Pangilinan said did not disclose any further details about the deal pending negotiations between the concerned parties.

 

"It's just a small farm," he said.

 

MPAV is expected to expand further its presence in the domestic milk industry with its ₱2-billion (US$35.51 million) integrated dairy farm in Laguna on track to begin operations by the third quarter.

 

With milk production scheduled to start as early as September, MPAV is optimistic it would hit its target revenue of ₱500 million (US$8.87 million) from its dairy segment this year.

 

Last year, the firm earned around ₱280 million (US$4.97 million) from its dairy operations, a little short of its ₱300 million (US$5.32 million) target, said Toby Gatchalian, MPAV's chief commercial officer.

 

At present, MPAV has at least 200 milking cows in TLCI and another 200 in UHDFI.

 

This year, MPAV sees its total milk production breaching the two-million litre mark, double than the one million litres it produced last year.

 

MPAV plans to produce 10 million litres by 2027.

 

The MPDF's dairy farm and processing facility can produce at least six million litres of milk every year once it begins full operations. The farm can house a total of 2,000 cows.

 

Hernandez said they hope that the average annual milk yield of the imported cows would hit 30 litres, more than double than the 12 to 13 lit average output of the TLCI cows.

 

-      The Philippine Star