The Department of Trade and Industry-Cordillera is continuously implementing various projects, programs, and activities to help micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) engaged in the region’s coffee industry.
These programs include promotion initiatives through the municipal, provincial, regional, and national trade fairs, bazaar, expos, coffee showcases, and festivals.
“Annually, the DTI conducts regional trade fair called the Impakabsat. Dito po sa regional trade fair na ito, consolidated lahat ng ating mga processed coffee from the Cordillera. We also have the national trade fare like the National Food Fair and the Bagsakan, being hosted by our national office to promote products, especially all the coffee produce from the Philippines,” said Antonio Gardose of DTI-Cordillera.
He said the agency also conduct trade promotion initiatives through partnerships with farm-to-table online platforms. Those who cannot join trade fairs physically may opt to buy coffee online.
“’Yung traditional solution natin ay farmers sell to traders at low price then traders sell to big establishments with a high market price. Ito pong farm-to-table market platforms natin provide fresh and quality affordable products and they ensure that the farmers will get fair market price and sila ‘yung nagde-deliver sa ating mga clients,” Gardose said.
There is also the One Town One Product (OTOP) Philippines Hub, which serves as a physical store and provides online channels to market OTOP products.
Gardose said two OTOP hubs were launched in Ifugao this year.
The DTI, in cooperation with select retail partners initiated the Go Lokal, a market access platform for MSMEs to level up products of the OTOP hubs and the Kapetirya.
A local coffee shop, which serves as a venue to aggressively promote local coffee products, the Kapetirya along Upper Session Road in Baguio City is the first of its kind in the country.
Aside from these programs, the Philippine Coffee Quality Competition also serves as a marketing strategy where coffee products are being introduced not only in the national market but also in the international market.
In the recent Philippine Coffee Quality Competition this year, Olimpo Lumasoc from Kalinga placed 10th in the Robusta category. – Debbie Gasingan
April 26, 2024
