₱1B yogurt plant targets stronger local dairy production in Cabuyao, Laguna

New facility set for 2027 aims to boost local milk use and reduce reliance on imports.

₱1B yogurt plant targets stronger local dairy production in Cabuyao, Laguna.

A ₱1 billion yogurt production facility in Laguna could help strengthen the country’s dairy industry while expanding access to locally produced dairy products for Filipino consumers.

ABI Pascual Foods, the dairy venture of Lucio Tan’s Asia Brewery Inc. and Spanish company Calidad Pascual, said it expects its new yogurt plant in Cabuyao, Laguna, to begin operations by the fourth quarter of 2027.

The facility will allow the company to shift production from imported yogurt to locally manufactured products, reducing reliance on overseas supply and potentially creating additional demand for the local dairy industry.

Company officials said the investment will strengthen the domestic dairy value chain, as the country currently depends heavily on imported milk and dairy products.

The project comes as nutrition concerns remain a challenge nationwide. Industry data cited by ABI Pascual indicate that around 94% of Filipino children do not meet recommended calcium intake levels, raising concerns about bone development and overall health.

Aside from supplying the local market, the company said the facility could eventually serve export markets in Southeast Asia and beyond by producing shelf-stable yogurt with a longer shelf life than traditional fresh yogurt.

The investment is also expected to generate jobs and create additional market opportunities for local dairy farmers, who have long struggled with limited buyers and competition from imported products.

The announcement follows ABI Pascual Foods’ recent partnership with the National Dairy Authority for a 100-day milk feeding program in Laguna, which supports child nutrition and local milk producers.

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