Support from the local government and legislative department will be essential to promote and ensure the sustainability of Mindanao’s coffee industry.

This was one of the main points agreed on during the recently held “Linking and Sharing for Mindanao Coffee Convergence” activity spearheaded by the Department of Agriculture Philippine Rural Development Mindanao last September 16, 2022 at Casa Leticia Hotel in Davao City.

The meeting of coffee stakeholders was a carry over from the recently concluded Philippine Coffee Expo 2022 as a means to bring Mindanao’s coffee industry players in one venue to discuss in detail the challenges and gaps in the coffee value chain and then come up with strategies to address these.

For his part, Sultan Kudarat Coffee Council Chairman Ronan Garcia shared how their council worked closely with their local government unit to get enough support to boost the coffee industry in the province.

“For Sultan Kudarat, the Council really work closely with LGU and now our LGU gets a sense of ownership and you even saw the support and

Sultan Kudarat Coffee Council Chair Ronan Garcia provides many inputs and ideas on how to improve the coffee industry in the province of Sultan Kudarat, in Region 12, and entire Mindanao.

participation of our Governor during the Philippine Coffee Expo 2022, “said Garcia. “We are also working with our own coffee roadmap for the province with support from our provincial leaders and members of the inter-agency convergence.”

It was acknowledged by everyone during the meeting that there were existing gaps in the coffee industry that could be solved through legislation and enactment of laws.

According to Davao Coffee Council Chair Joji Pantoja, she joined the Coffee Council in order to help the coffee farmers share their voices.

“Our dilemma here is between social and economic issues and both are needed to provide solutions to the country’s problems,” said Pantoja. “It is not just a matter of economics to sell and promote coffee but also connecting to suppliers, which if placed in a bigger ecosystem, involves policies and budget from the Government.”

The role of the inter-agency convergence comes into play as it links all the relevant line agencies while working together closely with the main players in the industry: the coffee farmers.

“I think the solution is convergence. Somebody needs to focus on promoting our coffee, but the Council needs to support the farmers in terms of their needs and what policies should be pushed to the government in order to address their problems,” added Pantoja.

In the bigger picture, the Council hopes to be the protector and controlling body that will ensure that all sources of coffee beans in terms of its origin should be properly credited and recognized.

“We should have a geographic information system (GIS) for coffee because we have to recognize the source of that coffee. We should honor our coffee farmers, and we can only do that if we have the council as a controlling body in terms of quality and source origin,” said Pantoja.

Davao Coffee Council Chair Joji Pantoja shares its coffee journey, dreams, and future plans.

As a way forward, the Council will be working on strengthening its function and tie up with its LGUs and start more collaboration and partnership with the other members of the coffee inter-agency convergence.

Present during the activity are partners from Philippine Coffee Guild, ACDI/VOCA-PhilCafe, Equilibrium Coffee, Coffee for Peace, Peace and Equity Foundation, PCE Lead Organizers, RPCO 10, RPCO 12, RPCO 13, RPCO BARMM,  Sultan Kudarat Coffee Council, Coffee farmers organization, and Local Government Units. (Joy M. Montecalvo, PSO Min)