KORONADAL, SOUTH COTABATO – To promote the locally produced coffee of Region 12, the Regional Development Council (RDC) XII has issued a resolution requesting all regional line agencies and local government units to serve locally produced coffee during meetings and similar events.

The passing of the RDC XII Resolution No. 103, series of 2020 entitled “Resolution Requesting All Regional Line Agencies (RLAs) And Local Government Units in SOCCSKSARGEN Region to serve Locally Produced Coffee during Meetings and Similar Activities” is an offshoot of the industry-cluster planning-meeting with the coffee stakeholders for the celebration of the Regional Coffee Month 2020 which was spearheaded by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Region 12.

Coffee is one of the 16 major priority industry clusters of the region which is being supported by DTI-Region 12 through its different programs and services anchored on developing entrepreneurship and product development.

Region 12 is the number one coffee-producing region in the country with a 32.4% contribution to the national coffee production making it a strong contender to be the coffee capital of the Philippines.

Among the assistance being extended by DTI-Region 12 to the coffee micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) are provisions of free entrepreneurial skills training, the conduct of product value-adding sessions, and improved access to markets.

The Rural Agro-Industrial Partnership for Inclusive Development (RAPID Growth) and the DTI-Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (DTI-CARP) are two of special the programs of DTI which are focused on providing direct assistance to coffee farmers and MSMEs across the coffee value-chain from production to processing.

In 2020, DTI-Region 12 has assisted a total of 806 MSMEs through the delivery of its programs and services.

Jude Constantine S. Jaugan, Regional Director of DTI-Region 12 said that coffee remains the priority industry to be assisted by the agency this 2020.

“Since Region 12 is a major coffee producer, it is very strategic that we focus our interventions by capitalizing on the production advantage through product quality improvement and in intensifying market promotions,” said Jaugan.♦

Date of Release: 7 January 2021