AS ONE of the producers of coffee products in the province of Davao de Oro, the New Leyte Agriculture Cooperative (NLAC) can now easily manufacture their green coffee beans into top-tier coffee products after the Department of Agriculture (DA)-Davao Region, in coordination with the Provincial Agriculture Office (Pagro), formally handed over the P8 million worth of coffee community-based enterprise or processing facility to the people's organization.
The processing facility will aid in the production, processing, marketing, and distribution of their produce.
The project was made possible under the High-Value Crops Development Program (HVCDP) of DA-Davao Region, through the insertion funds from the office of Senator Cynthia Villar.
The project components include the construction of a one-unit coffee processing facility; a one-unit coffee dryer; and a set of coffee processing equipment such as a coffee roasting machine, grinder, depulper, dehuller, weighing scale, and moisture meter. The project also comes with the provision of 760 bags of fertilizer and a capability building for the cooperative.
NLAC Chairman Jorge Omictin, in his message, extends his appreciation to the government as the enterprise will help in the consolidation of all coffee beans in Masara line areas, which will later stimulate and increase coffee production in the province.
The facilities and equipment will minimize the overall production time and cost and remove roadblocks to their production completion; thus helping farmers, especially the small coffee farmers, increase the value of their green coffee beans while providing a high profit in return.
During the program, Delio Cezar, a coffee MSME, received recognition for his significant contributions to the province's coffee industry as he was one of the entrants in the Philippine Coffee Quality Competition (PCQC) held at Waterfront Insular Hotel, Davao City on March 18, 2022. As a result, he represented the Philippines during the Specialty Coffee Expo in Boston, Massachusetts, USA from April 8 to 10, 2022.
Indeed, supporting farmers, MSMEs, and the agricultural sector, in general, brought significant impact in terms of recognizing the products that are "Tatak Davao de Oro" throughout the whole world.
Thus, it is one of the goals of the current administration headed by Governor Dorothy Montejo Gonzaga to support them more to see to it that they are not left behind as they are important key drivers for the inclusive growth of the economy not only in the province but also in the entire country.
The ceremony was attended by farmer organizations, MSMEs, DA-Davao Region HVCDP Representative Audie Sanchez, Provincial Coffee Farmers Association of Davao Oro (PCOFADDO) President Arcardio Sabella, PAGRO Provincial Agriculturist Dr. Jaime Anter, DTI-DdO Provincial Director Atty. Lucky Siegfred M. Balleque, New Leyte Brgy. Captain Hon. Isidro M. Relator and Maco Vice Mayor Hon. Alvera Veronica Rimando who signified their support and pledge of commitment to the project. (PR)