Mayor Gumilab commits P.2M funding to encourage Tinglayan farmers to plant coffee

Tinglayan, Kalinga – Mayor Sacrament Gumilab assured the allotment of P200,000 working capital and monetary incentive for every coffee seed planted by the Belong Man-ubal Farmers Association (BELMAFA) who recently were granted a P2.9 million worth Shared Service Facility (SSF) from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

Mayor Gumilab, in an interview, said that the incentive will be included in the municipality’s 2022 budget as grant for coffee processors to encourage them to rejuvenate, expand and promote the coffee industry in Tinglayan which he believes will preserve culture while paving the way to improve its economy.

“Coffee is a part of our culture. Every morning we drink coffee. We welcome and entertain our guests with coffee that it became an essential a part of way of life. So by supporting this industry we do not only promote our traditions but will also be creating a means of livelihood for our people,” Gumilab said.

Gumilab added that the local government will be pushing to make coffee as one of the major products of Tinglayan, aside from the heirloom Unoy rice, to make both products and an identity that represents the municipality.

He also expressed hope that through the collaborative efforts of different government agencies, coffee industry will prosper in their town.

As shared by the mayor, the approval of the ongoing DTI-Department of Public works and Highways Farm to Market Road in Tinglayan is also attributed to the growing coffee industry of the BELMAFA.

As recalled, DTI Kalinga on September 22, 2021 turned-over coffee processing facilities to BELMAFA last week under the INREMP LES 2 DTI-DENR Project composed of P1.5 million worth processing center building, P1,353,000 processing equipment, and P50,000 working capital.

The turnover was attended by DTI Provincial Director Renie M. Ramos, Ms. Remedios Ramirez representing DENR PENRO Noel Barrientos, and DTI Kalinga coffee industry focal person and Coffee Grader Engr. Jeffrey Pasikan.

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