Davao City (24 November 2022) – Agrarian Reform Secretary Conrado Estrella III has vowed to support the agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) involved in the cacao industry in the Philippines.

The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Chief emphasized this commitment during the opening of the Cacao National Congress 2022 held at the SMX Convention Center, Lanang, Davao City.

“We will ensure that the Land Bank of the Philippines will provide financial assistance and credit access to ARBs involved in the cacao industry,” he said.

Estrella disclosed that although the majority of the ARBs in the area are coconut planters, he said he would encourage the farmers to intercrop coconut and mix it with cacao to increase their income and productivity in both industries.

“During the 1st quarter of 2023, we will invite the Departments of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Trade & Industry (DTI), Agriculture (DA), Science and Technology (DOST), and the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), and representatives of the cacao industry to plan and advance its progress both locally and internationally,” he said.

Joseph Orilla, DAR Davao Regional Director, revealed that more areas in the region are now planted with cacao with a number of ARBs engaged in the processing of cacao’s by-products.

“Based on the 2022 Philippine Statistics Authority report, Region XI registered as the leading cacao-producing region, with 1.61 thousand metric tons or at least 71.3 percent share to the total cacao production in the Philippines,” Orilla said.

Orilla added that as of 2022, forty-five (45) ARB organizations (ARBOs) in the Davao region are involved in cacao production, six (6) ARBOs in Davao City, eight (8) in Davao del Sur, ten (10) in Davao Oriental, nine (9) in Davao del Norte, six (6) in Davao de Oro and six (6) in Davao Occidental.

“The whole Davao region has a total of 2,525.35 hectares planted with cacao benefiting 2,774 ARBs,” he said.

He disclosed that the DAR has already provided eight (8) projects to the ARBs under the Village Level Farm Focused Enterprise Development (VLFED) specifically cacao processing center, planting materials and seedlings, capacity development building on marketing and financial aspect, and credit assistance.

The Cacao National Congress 2022 is a 2-day event with the theme “Cacao is Gold,” and discussed how local producers can improve the industry to meet international marketing standards.

Around 1,800 stakeholders from all over the Philippines joined the congress where products of successful chocolate processors were showcased.

The Philippine Cacao Industry Association, Inc. (PCIA) organized the event in partnership with Philippine Cacao Industry Council, DTI, DA, and DILG.

Lungsod ng Davao (24 Nobyembre 2022) – Nangako si Agrarian Reform Secretary Conrado Estrella III na susuportahan ang agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) na kasama sa industriya ng cacao sa Pilipinas.

Binigyang-diin ng Hepe ng Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) ang pangakong ito sa pagbubukas Cacao National Congress 2022 na ginanap sa SMX Convention Center, Lanang, Davao City.

"Sisiguraduhin namin, na ang Land Bank of the Philippines ay magbibigay ng tulong pinansyal at credit access sa mga ARB na kasama sa industriya ng cacao," aniya.

Ibinunyag ni Estrella na bagama't karamihan sa mga ARB sa lugar ay mga nagtatanim ng niyog, hihikayatin niya aniya ang mga magsasaka na mag-intercrop ng niyog at ihalo ito sa cacao para tumaas ang kanilang kita at produktibidad ng parehong industriya.

“Sa 1st quarter ng 2023, aanyayahan natin ang Departments of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Trade & Industry (DTI), Agriculture (DA), Science and Technology (DOST), at Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), at mga kinatawan ng industriya ng cacao upang planuhin at isulong ang pag-unlad nito kapwa sa lokal at internasyonal na lebel,” aniya.

Nagpahayad naman si Joseph Orilla, DAR Davao Regional Director, na mas maraming lugar sa rehiyon ang tinatamnan na ng cacao at maraming bilang na rin ng mga ARB ang nakikibahagi sa pagproseso ng mga by-product ng cacao.

"Batay sa ulat ng 2022 Philippine Statistics Authority, ang Rehiyon XI ay nakarehistro bilang nangungunang rehiyon sa paggawa ng cacao, na may 1.61 libong metriko tonelada o hindi bababa sa 71.3 porsyento na bahagi sa kabuuang produksiyon ng cacao sa Pilipinas," ani Orilla.

Idinagdag ni Orilla na noong 2022, apatnapu't limang (45) ARB organizations (ARBOs) sa Davao region ang sangkot sa cacao production, anim (6) ARBOs sa Davao City, walo (8) sa Davao del Sur, sampu (10) sa Davao Oriental, siyam (9) sa Davao del Norte, anim (6) sa Davao de Oro at anim (6) sa Davao Occidental.

“Ang buong rehiyon ng Davao ay may kabuuang 2,525.35 ektarya na natataniman ng cacao kung saan 2,774 ARBs ang nakikinabang dito,” aniya.

Ibinunyag niya na ang DAR ay nakapagbigay na ng walong (8) proyekto sa mga ARB sa ilalim ng Village Level Farm Focused Enterprise Development (VLFED) partikular ang cacao processing center, planting materials at seedlings, capacity development building sa marketing at financial aspect, at credit assistance.

Ang Cacao National Congress 2022 ay 2-araw na kaganapan na may temang "Ang Cacao ay Ginto," at tinalakay kung paano mapapahusay ng mga lokal na producer ang industriya ang produkto upang matugunan ang mga internasyonal na pamantayan sa marketing.