ZAMBOANGA CITY -- Post production facility and processing centers for coffee will be constructed in four towns in Sulu to enhance the province’s coffee industry, an official said Sunday.

Sulu Provincial Information Officer Sonny Abing III said the processing centers will be constructed in the towns of Patikul, Talipao, Indanan and Panamao to give coffee farmers the chance to increase their productivity and income.

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“Generally, the project is designed to promote human security through community economic development… It aims to increase productivity and incomes in the target communities through sustainable agriculture-based livelihood and community based enterprise development,” Abing said.

He added that the Sulu provincial government and the United Nations Action for Conflict Transformation for Peace Programme (UN Act for Peace) have directed the Task Force Kahawa Sug, in partnership with the Sulu Provincial Cooperative Union, to implement the P2.5-million project in the four towns.

Last week, Sulu Governor Abdusakur Tan issued Executive Order 3, creating the Task Force Kahawa Sug for the purpose of enhancing and facilitating the implementation of the Coffee Industry Development Plan (CIDP) of the island province.

Members of the task force come from the Sulu Cooperative Union, Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Technical Education Skills and Development Authority (Tesda), and Provincial Government.

Kahawa is a Tausug word, which literally means coffee. Tausug refers to the people of Sulu.

Abing said the Sulu Provincial Cooperative Union, which is the project proponent, will provide P1.6-million counterpart fund to be used for technical capability building and the construction of coffee processing center.

He said the UN Act for Peace will provide the amount of P999,000 for the purchase of depulping, grinding and roasting machines.

The projects, according to Abing, will be implemented through contract of service between the UN Act for Peace Programme and the Sulu Provincial Cooperative Union based on the partnership institutional arrangement.

He said the UN Act for Peace Programme is responsible for providing the necessary funding and other technical assistance, while the Sulu Provincial Cooperative Union is responsible for the overall project administration, management and delivery of outputs. (Bong Garcia/Sunnex)