Wednesday, September 26, 2007 Gensan-based coffee shop expands in Davao
FROM agricultural plantations to coffee shops, the Land Bank of the Philippines is focusing its vision on supporting small- and medium- scale enterprises in the southern part of Mindanao.
According to Joselito Gutierrez, vice president and regional head of LBP-Region 12, the SME loan portfolio for the region is pegged at P400 million.
Much of the assisted enterprises include agri-related industries and processing.
"We look for SMEs which we can help. It is our mandate to assist," Guiterrez said.
He was in town for the groundbreaking of the Davao-branch of the Fagioli coffee shop, a popular coffee shop in General Santos City.
"Land Bank has been assisting them (Fagioli management) since 2005, when they put up their first branch," Gutierrez said.
The Fagioli Coffee shop was set up by Christine Rebusura for those who wanted a different coffee-drinking experience in General Santos City. The coffee shop became an instant hit for its coffee, elegant ambience, convenient location, and wi-fi connections
Gutierrez said their support for Fagioli would also redound to helping improve the lives of coffee growers particularly in the Soccsksargen.
The second Fagioli branch, which will rise beside the RS Autosphere showroom (Kia Motors), is an entrepreneurial endeavor also supported by Land Bank.
Present during the groundbreaking were Land Bank officials led by executive vice president Wilfredo Malvia and Land Bank sector head and first VP Delia Ladao.
According to Oscar Rebusura of Fagiolo, the coffee shop will soon open by October and is ready to serve Dabawenyos, especially those who want pure coffee experience.
He said the beer-less coffee shop aims to offer a perfect coffee shop ambience.
"We offer specially roasted coffee beans, our coffee-maker is the top-of-the-line Rancillo brand considered as the Rolls-Royce of coffee-makers. It has an indoor capacity of 50 seats and an al-fresco area good for 20 people," he said.
Fagioli, which means coffee beans in Italian, will feature its Fudge-o-malt specialty and other specially prepared coffee concoctions. The establishment is an elegantly designed glass-enclosed shop soothed with a Bose piped-in music system plus the area is a wif-fi hotspot.
