TWO DAR USECs to personally visit Kalinga coffee communities, assess sector needs, and explore ways to boost industry

Tabuk City, Kalinga – Two Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) undersecretaries are set to visit Kalinga later this month, with coffee farmers and local coffee organizations expected to be among the key groups they will personally meet as part of efforts to strengthen support for the province’s growing coffee industry.

During the Special Management Committee (MANCOM) meeting on June 9 at the New Conference Hall in Bulanao, Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer (PARPO) Adela Damaso announced the upcoming visit of Undersecretary for the Foreign-Assisted and Special Projects Office (FASPO) Jesry T. Palmares and Undersecretary for the Support Services Office (SSO) Josef Angelo S. Martires.

The two officials are expected to arrive in Kalinga on June 24 after passing through Tuguegarao City.

Damaso said the visit will include courtesy calls on provincial officials, meetings with stakeholders, and field inspections. A Padatong or Mangili Night is also being proposed to formally welcome the visiting officials.

“Arrival nila on 24, we will fetch them in Tuguegarao then a courtesy visit with Governor and vice gov. then maybe a brief meeting. We are also suggesting for a Padatong or Mangili night—just a simple welcome program for them sana,” Damaso said.

One of the highlights of the visit will be the officials’ engagement with Kalinga’s coffee sector. According to Damaso, USEC Martires has expressed interest in personally meeting coffee farmers and representatives of local coffee organizations to better understand the industry's current situation, challenges, and development needs.

“Kayat ni USEC Martires metlang nga apan na kitaen dagidiay agcon-conduct iti mission as well as the coffee farmers and coffee organizations to personally see kung ano ang situation and maybe kung ano ang kailangan ng community,” she said.

Apart from meeting farmers, DAR will also distribute Certificates of Land Ownership Awards (CLOAs), electronic land titles (e-Titles), and Certificates of Condonation with Release of Mortgage (CoCRoM) to qualified agrarian reform beneficiaries.

The agency is likewise set to provide farm machinery and equipment to selected farmers' organizations, benefiting a total of 506 Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs).

Provincial officials said the visit is expected to further strengthen government support for Kalinga’s agriculture sector, particularly its coffee industry, which has gained recognition in recent years as one of the major coffee-producing areas in the Cordillera region.

Several farmers' groups and cooperatives have also been actively promoting locally produced coffee products while encouraging more communities to venture into coffee farming as a sustainable source of livelihood.