Kalinga urged to lead Philippine coffee development, not just supply the beans

TABUK CITY, Kalinga — Kalinga should move beyond being a coffee-producing province and take a leading role in developing a resilient, quality-driven and farmer-centered Philippine coffee industry, Department of Agriculture (DA) Undersecretary for Special Concerns and Official Development Assistance Jerome V. Oliveros said.

Oliveros conveyed the message through DA Coffee Development Office National Coffee Focal Person Enrique Dela Cruz during the 2nd Kalinga Invitational Coffee Quality and Sustainable Congress held at the Kalinga State University Main Campus in Bulanao on September 8.

Dela Cruz said Kalinga is well-positioned to contribute significantly to the future of Philippine coffee because of its natural resources, favorable climate and conditions, and generations of farmers with knowledge and experience in cultivating the land.

“Kalinga should not be simply part of the story, Kalinga should help lead the story,” Oliveros said.

He added that the province has the mountains, soil, favorable climate and experienced farmers needed to develop a strong coffee industry, but its greatest asset remains its people.

Beyond producing coffee

Oliveros challenged Kalinga to look beyond increasing coffee production and work toward an industry that benefits farmers, strengthens communities and prepares producers for future challenges.

“Kalinga has a very important role in this story, because you are not simply a producer of coffee. You can become a model of what resilient, quality-driven, farmer-centered coffee development can look like,” he said.

He envisioned coffee farms becoming more productive and climate-resilient, farmers gaining access to reliable weather information, cooperatives having modern facilities, and quality coffee commanding premium prices.

He also envisioned Kalinga coffee helping attract young people and tourists to the province, with the younger generation seeing coffee farming as a profession and business, while visitors experience Kalinga not only through its mountains and culture but also through its locally produced coffee.

Oliveros stressed that achieving this vision requires stronger cooperation among government agencies, farmers, private-sector stakeholders, academic institutions and other partners.

“The Philippine coffee needs focused attention. Hindi dapat kanya-kanya because no single agency can build a globally competitive coffee industry, but together we can,” he said.

He also called for a coordinated support system that would make it easier for farmers to access government assistance without having to navigate multiple offices and programs on their own.

Farmers must benefit

Oliveros emphasized that making the coffee industry farmer-centered also means ensuring that government investments and interventions reach the communities that need them most.

“We must make coffee attractive to investors, where farmers can earn and where young Filipinos can see a future,” he said.

He also recognized the challenges faced by coffee farmers, particularly the gap between the work invested in production and the prices farmers sometimes receive for their harvest.

“To our coffee farmers, we see you. We know that farming is not easy and we know that sometimes, after months of hard work, the price you receive does not seem to reflect the value of what you've produced. But your work matters,” he said.

Dela Cruz said Kalinga’s coffee industry can serve as a platform for economic opportunity, innovation and community development.

He stressed that strengthening the industry should give farmers concrete reasons to remain in agriculture, invest in their farms, adopt new technologies and continue improving coffee quality.

“Hindi lang ito tungkol sa kape, it is about opportunity, resilience, dignity and it is about giving our farmers a reason to stay, to invest, to innovate and to dream,” he said.

For Oliveros, leading Philippine coffee development means building an industry where farmers are not merely producers but central partners in its growth.

The two-day coffee congress served as a venue for stakeholders to exchange knowledge and strengthen collaboration toward a more sustainable and competitive coffee industry.

Oliveros’ message placed Kalinga at the center of that effort, challenging the province to move beyond simply participating in the Philippine coffee story and help shape its future.