ASIDE from its tourism offerings, particularly beaches and resorts, Sipalay City is also positioned to become the “Chocolate City” of Negros Occidental mainly due to its growing cacao industry.
Philanthropist Merceditas Montilla, who owns about a half-hectare cacao nursery in Canturay village, said she envisions the city as the province’s major producer of cacao and its by-products used in chocolate production.
Montilla said the city, with its vast lands, has a potential for massive cacao plantations, adding that there is just a need to push the people to plant.
“I started planting cacao as a way to open the eyes of the people not to be scared in starting something new,” she said. “I believe more on diversification, it is a lifesaver, rather than monocrop.”
Montilla, who grew up in a family of farmers, started to propagate organic cacao seedlings in August last year.
At present, her nursery houses at least 80,000 seedlings of three varieties like BR 25, PBC 123, and UF 18 registered with the Bureau of Plant and Industry. Some were already dispersed and planted in various areas in the city.
She is also working on propagating “chriollo” or the native white variety from Peru considered to be one of the best cacao beans.
To further boost production, Montilla said she plans to tap the help of government agencies like the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and Department of Agriculture to convince communities to have all vacant land in the city planted with cacao.
“By providing seedlings to the community, we can further encourage them to plant,” she said, adding that this is a potential means for the people to augment their livelihood.
Montilla said the Provincial Government already expressed support in boosting cacao production in Sipalay City.
“In fact, they are willing to also replicate the initiative in other cities and municipalities in the province.”
Montilla said she is also willing to work with other organizations, including those in the private sector.
“They can buy my seedlings, the nursery is also open for demonstration and training.”
Schools can also bring their students to the nursery and learn cacao production. Montilla said they can tap the DA to provide orientation and seminar.
However, she said that to make Sipalay the “Chocolate City” of Negros Occidental, the processing aspect should also be worked on once production is already strong.
“We can even have a small processing center for a start and gather women in the city to make tablea or chocolate bar,” Montilla said.