“Coffee for Life, Coffee for All.”
With a strong confidence that the coffee sector in Region 02 would prosper and that the Philippine Coffee Roadmap 2017-2022 is the most logical path to success, the Cagayan Valley Coffee Industry Council (CVCIC), the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)-Region 02 and the Department of Agriculture (DA)-Region 02, initiated the Roadmap Localization in the region held on November 02-03, 2017 at the Cagayan Valley Research Center, San Felipe, Ilagan City, Isabela. This is to refresh the strategies and vision of the region in pursuing an inclusive development in all the stages of the industry’s value chain. In spite of the bad weather experienced by the region, it did not hinder the more than forty (40) stakeholders who participated in the workshop to contribute in this very important activity.
The new Regional Executive Director of DA-Region 02, Dir. Narciso Edillo was all-out supportive during the activity. In his message, he said that he truly believes in the potential of coffee and other high value crops and assured the stakeholders that the department will be pro-active in giving the needs of farmers. He however, expressed his hope that farmers and stakeholders will mature into a level of self-reliance so that programs and projects will benefit more the community.
OIC Regional Director Ruben Diciano of DTI-Region 02 is optimistic on the growth of the coffee sector in the country industry and in the region, given the many great things that are being received by coffee from its recognition by the RDC-EDC 02 as a priority industry, to the approval of the Philippine Coffee Roadmap, conduct of the 1st Regional Coffee Forum and the creation of the CVCIC. He recognized the officers of the CVCIC for their initiative to conduct the activity and for their very visible commitment to the industry. He also emphasized the importance of value addition, product development and branding for the coffee sector.
The two-day localization activity was facilitated by an external service provider, Ms. Miriam Bacalso from the Visayas Region who had worked with various national and international organizations specifically on industry clustering and green economic development. She employed the value chain tool in the conduct of the workshop with the following outputs: Region 02’s Coffee Value Chain Map; Priority Products and Market; Strategic Objective and Goals; Constraints and Opportunities Analysis; Major Strategies and Action Plan starting 2018-2022.
The outputs will be reviewed by the CVCIC before its presentation to stakeholders in the provinces. Once finalized, the roadmap will be presented to and concurred in by CVCIC and all concerned agencies and institutions.♦