Section 9Sec./Art. 9

Governance and Expanded Functions of the NDA. - The BAI Administrator shall be designated representative of the DA Secretary as Chairperson of the Dairy Industry Board, created under Section 5 of Republic Act No. 7884 or the "National Dairy Development Act of 1995".

In addition to its existing developmental powers and functions, the NDA shall:

(a) Distribute as grant, dairy animals, equipment, and other supplies to qualified small-hold and semi-commercial dairy farmers, cooperatives, and associations (FCAs), and local government units (LGUs);

(b) Integrate dairy production and dairy-related businesses into various livelihood and nutrition programs;

(c)Engage in dairy-related business milk-buying, and other marketing activities, to sustain the financial viability of of the agency including, but not limited to, sales, exchange, packaging, and exportation of milk and milk products, and importation of dairy animals; and engage in business ventures and other commercial arrangements on its own or with third parties related to dairy activities including, but not limited to, the establishment of milk processing plants, feed processing, trading, hauling, shipping, and other value chain businesses or activities on dairying;

(d) Establish and maintain dairy regional operations and business centers or offices in various parts of the country in order to conduct business, development, extension support, and training services;

(e) Establish and operate its own dairy stock farms, nucleus farms, and artificial insemination facilities for the purpose of breeding, upgrading, dispersal, and sale of dairy animals;

(f) Issue certificates of product registration, and in connection therewith, collect incidental fees from local related businesses;

(g) Coordinate and facilitate the absorption of local milk supply by the commercial sector; and

(h) Establish and maintain facilities and services in support of the industry's compliance with regulations, developmental and extension activities including, but not limited to, offices, reference laboratories, satellite laboratories, dairy hubs, and training facilities, among others.