Mayor Malannag grateful to Kalinga PLGU's support to Balbalan coffee growers

Balbalan, Kalinga – The local government unit of Balbalan, led by Mayor Almar Malannag, expressed gratitude to the provincial government of Kalinga for their unwavering support of local coffee growers.

The provincial government, in collaboration with various concerned agencies, has played a crucial role in uplifting the coffee farming community in the said town.

On January 18, the Kalinga PLGU, through the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist, distributed farm equipment worth P3 million to 32 selected coffee farmers in the province.

The initiative, conducted in partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry – Kalinga, aimed to enhance productivity and sustainability in the coffee farming industry.

The distributed high-grade machinery included power sprayers, 2000L water tanks, various-sized pipes, tools, 5hp power pumps, and more.

Cooperators like Rex Dulansi, Grace Daowan, and Erlinda Almeda in Balbalan received essential farm tools, fertilizer support, and irrigation equipment.

The three were joined by Mayor Malannag who expressed pride in Balbalan's reputation as a top-quality coffee producer.

“The people of Balbalan are known as significant contributors to high-quality coffee production. Balbalan used to be a major hub for coffee trading, with various tribes such as Cal-owan, Dao-angan, Salegseg, and Banao actively contributing to coffee production. Coffee was our gold before the mining activities in Gaang,” Malannag said in a local dialect.

Kalinga PLGU ready to allocate more funds for coffee farmers with positive results.

Governor James Edduba, during the turn-over on Thursday, declared his willingness to allocate additional funds to the project if positive results are demonstrated by the farmers.

He highlighted his pride in the province's outstanding coffee quality and underscored the crucial role of empowering local farmers.