Coffee-producing groups in the Cordillera with enterprise development subprojects under the Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP), have joined anew this year’s Philippine Coffee Expo that ran from June 2 to 4 at the World Trade Center in Pasay City.
With the theme, “Celebrating Philippine coffee: Brewing the future,” the expo brought together key players in the industry to celebrate and promote Philippine coffee.
Held annually, the event also serves as a platform for producers and buyers to form linkages and to recognize the best coffee products and brewers in the country.
Among the activities in the expo are plenary and breakout sessions, business matching, and exhibits.
Shirley U. Tagtag, manager of Ifugao-based Hojap Multipurpose Cooperative, was one of the plenary speakers with the topic, “Coffee and cooperative”.
She shared the cooperative’s practices and innovations to sustain their business.
Aside from Hojap Multipurpose Cooperative that featured their product, Hojap Kesi’melan Coffee, the other groups that participated in the expo are Kalinga coffee cluster led by the Dupligan Farmers Multipurpose Cooperative with their product, Kalinga Forest Coffee; Sagada Arabica Coffee Growers and Processors Organization, Inc. with their product, Sagada Gold; La Trinidad Arabica Coffee Producers Association with their product, Latacpa Coffee; Tuba, Benguet Coffee Growers Association with their product, Si’jop; and Bobok-Bisal Organic Arabica Coffee Producers and Growers Association, Inc. with their product, Bobok Aroma. – Stepher L. Banhan and Elvy T. Estacio
