PCC marks 31 years

THE Philippine Carabao Center (PCC) located at the Central Luzon State University (CLSU) in Nueva Ecija celebrated its 31st anniversary on March 8 with the theme “Excellence in Unity.”

Liza Battad, PCC executive director, said the center under the Department of Agriculture has been instrumental in promoting socioeconomic empowerment and sustainable development for the past 31 years.

“It is known for its mandate in protecting, breeding and promoting carabao as a milk, meat, draft power and hide source for rural farmers,” Battad said.

The event included the ribboncutting ceremony for the product exhibit where various products using carabao’s milk were displayed.

With Battad was Ericson de la Cruz, PCCCLSU director, who led the said ceremony, while Edgar Orden, CLSU vice president for research and extension, served as the keynote speaker of the event.

Also the concurrent director of the Central Luzon Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development Consortium, Orden recognized the achievements of PCC as an organization that changed the industry through the concerted efforts of its dedicated leaders and staff to achieve greater heights and enhance the lives of the people and communities it serves.

In his keynote address, Orden said that with its current leadership, personnel, facilities and partners, “there is no doubt that PCC will continue to be a front-runner in developing further the carabao industry of the country.”

“We look forward to the next years for PCC to be known worldwide as a supplier of genetically improved breeders, highly productive animals, the finest carabao milk, and milk products and highly competent human resources,” he said.

Orden added that these could add more significant chapters to the PCC’s colorful story, which is “the story of the carabao for the people.”

Also gracing the event was Evaristo Abella, CLSU president, who received a plaque of appreciation for the continuous support of the university in the research and extension endeavor of PCC along with other partner institutions present at the event.

Aireen Padilla of the CLSU Strategic Communication Office said the celebration was attended by 253 participants from PCC national headquarters, farmer partners and regional networks from various academic institutions.

Padilla said these higher education institutions include the University of the Philippines Los Baños, Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University, Mariano Marcos Memorial State University, Cagayan State University, and CLSU faculty and staff.