BONTOC, Mountain Province – The first-of-its-kind coffee consolidation, processing, and marketing enterprise in Barangay Mainit, Bontoc, Mountain Province is seen to boost the production of the high-value commodity which shall benefit coffee farmers in the locality.
This, following the SubProject Turnover of the Aliwes Arabica Coffee Consolidation, Processing, and Marketing Enterprise with a total project cost of PhP11.12 Million on April 4, 2024, in Barangay Mainit. The said enterprise subproject was implemented through the Department of Agriculture–Philippine Rural Development Project with the Aliwes Irrigators’ Association, Inc. (AIAI) comprising 60 coffee grower-members as recipients.
Regional Technical Director for Operations Danilo Daguio and RTD for Research and Regulations Arlene Sagayo, both of the DA-Regional Field Office – Cordillera Administrative Region (RFO-CAR) expressed high hopes for the success of the project.
Daguio and Sagayo are both looking forward that with the consolidation, the coffee farmers would be strengthened as they work together to increase coffee production as well as meet the demands of the market and would soon cover not only the produce of their members but also the non-members in the community.
Bontoc Mayor Jerome “Chagsen” Tudlong, Jr., extended his gratitude to the DA for the high-impact project it gave to the coffee farmers in the village adding that it would not only benefit the members of the association but also the other coffee growers in the other barangays of the municipality as it expected that they will soon buy their produce to process it to premium Arabia coffee green beans.
“This project not only signifies success but also exemplifies the commitment of the government to community development through improving coffee production and empowering farmers to better market the coffee that they grow and produce”, Tudlong added.
Provincial Administrator Franklin Odsey who represented Governor Bonifacio Lacwasan, Jr., highlighted the importance of teamwork and proper management within the association for the coffee consolidation, processing, and marketing enterprise subproject to succeed.
Mainit Punong Barangay Rocky Sagiyod thanked the different government agencies for the project it provided to the coffee growers in their village which he said would improve the living conditions of the recipients and their families. He likened success to the development of a child elaborating that the first implementation of the project would be a learning stage for the AIAI until they would gain additional knowledge and skills that are beneficial for the enterprise to prosper.
On behalf of the association, AIAI Coffee Enterprise Manager Rosalina Malafo joined Sagiyod in extending their utmost gratitude to the various government entities for the realization of the project. She assured that the association would do its best for the coffee consolidation, processing, and marketing enterprise to prosper, recognizing that it would provide them better market access, fair prices for their produce, and improved their living conditions.
Municipal Government Assistant Department Head Catherine Agcon of the Office of the Municipal Agriculturist relayed that the said association was already able to produce, process, and market 48 kilograms of Premium Arabica Coffee Greens at PhP380 per kilogram.
It is to be noted that the PhP11.12 Million coffee consolidation, processing, and marketing enterprise subproject involved PhP2.5 million to be provided by the cooperative either in cash or in kind, which is equivalent to around 20 per cent of the total project cost. Meanwhile, PhP5.48 million was allocated to civil works while the remainder was used for machinery and supplies, working capital for raw materials and transport services.
On the part of the Bontoc municipal government, it shall continue to provide technical assistance and monitoring to the association.
Meanwhile, also present during the turnover were personnel from the DA, the provincial government, officials and employees of the municipal government, and Mainit barangay officials and the community. By Alpine L. Killa-Malwagay
