City, DTI honor local coffee growers
The city government and the Cordillera office of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI-CAR) recently honored local coffee growers that brought honor and pride to the city during the Philippine Coffee Quality Competition (PCQC) which was successfully held this year.
DTI-CAR assistant regional director Samuel Gallardo said that the PCQC is an annual event designed to identify and promote the best quality coffees in the country to both domestic and international markets.
He added that the said prestigious competition is supported by the government, private sector and donor-funded projects.
Further, it allows recognition of the local coffee in the global coffee industry aligned with the globally-accepted grading and profiling standards of the Coffee Quality Institute (DQI).
Out of 151 participants in the PCQC, the Cordillera contributed 14 remarkable entries with three of them achieving top ranks in the Arabica category that placed 2nd, 10th and 12. Moreover, among the participants nationwide, the youngest farmer who joined the competition at age 21 is Rodyio Tacdoy of Atok, Benguet.
According to him, the said achievements highlights the region’s commitment to producing quality coffees.
The Arabica winners were Domingo L. Lawagey of Mountain Province with a rating of 84.80 – second place; George Dapliyan of Mountain Province – 82.86 washed – 10th place and Chud Wesson Bumakil of Benguet — 82.79 natural – 12th.
Those who came from the city that displayed exemplary achievements were Margarita Simon Dong-e – participant in the 2024 PCQC that achieved the Green Grade Result of Specialty Arabica Quality, showcasing unparalleled dedication to quality and innovation; Edgar Z. Kawig, Jr. – grand champion of the 2024 Philippine Coffee Roaster Competition, who will proudly represent the country at the upcoming Asian Roasting Competition in Thailand this October and that his expertise and passion for coffee roasting have set a benchmark for excellence; Clifford Ken Batawig – recognized for his essential role as Q-Processor of the winning Top 11 coffee entry during the said competition, ensuring meticulous quality control and enhancement of the region’s coffee standards and Earl Vincent Nones and Maria Lyra Ordona – Latte Art Simulation Duo Competition Winners during the Philippine Coffee Expo on June 7, 2024.
Gallardo expressed the agency’s sincere gratitude to all their partners, government agencies, private sectors and dedicated coffee enthusiasts for their unwavering support that had been integral to the success and growth of the region’s coffee industry.
He asserted that the concerned stakeholders did not only elevate the reputation of the Cordillera coffee within the country’s coffee industry but also made significant strides on the global stage.
He emphasized that the said competition serves as a space for innovation, driving positive change and inspiring continuous improvement in the coffee industry, thus, stakeholders must embrace such kinds of opportunities as they continue to nurture and expand the impact of Cordillera coffee on both local and international stages. Dexter A. See
