TABUK CITY, Kalinga – The Coffee Agro-Eco-Tourism industry in Kalinga Province received a major boost during the 1st Kalinga Coffee Summit, held at the Kalinga Sports Center, Capitol. The event, spearheaded by the Provincial Local Government Unit (PLGU), was led by Kalinga Governor James Edduba and Provincial Agriculturist Engineer Domingo Bakilan.
The summit gathered coffee farmers, local chief executives, and key stakeholders from across the province, with the aim of establishing a shared commitment to bolster coffee production and revitalize the industry. A highlight of the event was the signing of a pledge of commitment by local government leaders and industry stakeholders, ensuring collective efforts toward increasing coffee production by 2025.
Provincial Agriculturist Engineer Domingo Bakilan emphasized the significance of sustained funding for the Kalinga Coffee Development Program. He shared that the program, which started with a ₱2 million budget in 2022, has since seen an increase to ₱4 million in both 2023 and 2024. These funds have been used to establish coffee demonstration farms across Kalinga’s seven municipalities and Tabuk City, focusing on plantation development, rejuvenation efforts, and irrigation system improvements to ensure long-term sustainability.
Bakilan expressed optimism for the future of Kalinga’s coffee industry, underscoring the importance of local government units (LGUs) supporting the initiative. He encouraged municipalities and Tabuk City to allocate a portion of their agriculture budgets toward advancing the province’s coffee production plans.
In his speech, Bakilan also highlighted the irony of Kalinga’s proud association with coffee, noting that many farmers had shifted to corn farming due to the high costs of maintaining coffee plantations. “Nu agsao tayu outside Kalinga Province, kanayun nga ipannakel tayu ti danum tayu ditoy nga para iti bisita ket kape,” he said, stressing the need to realign focus back to coffee production. He called on LGUs to help encourage former coffee farmers to return to the industry, ensuring that Kalinga retains its reputation for high-quality coffee.
Governor James Edduba echoed Bakilan’s sentiments and voiced full support for the coffee development initiative. Edduba has already initiated steps to involve the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in utilizing funds allocated for TUPAD beneficiaries and NTF-ELCAC barangays to establish and manage coffee nurseries. These nurseries are expected to contribute to the province’s coffee production while providing additional income opportunities for beneficiaries and communities.
The governor also challenged local officials to plant coffee along the roadsides of PRDP road projects, which he believes will not only support coffee production but also help prevent soil erosion during typhoons. To ensure this vision is realized, Edduba is set to issue an executive order mandating LGUs to allocate funding for coffee production in their respective areas and plant coffee along key infrastructure projects.
The Kalinga Coffee Council’s technical working group plans to make courtesy calls to local chief executives to solidify their support for the pledge of commitment and further the province’s vision of massive coffee production.
The summit marked a pivotal moment for Kalinga, uniting all sectors in a shared effort to make the province a leader in coffee production and agro-eco-tourism. With strong collective action, Kalinga is on track to become a key player in the national coffee industry by 2025. By Jesse Maguiya
