By Freddie Lazaro
LAOAG CITY, Ilocos Norte - The provincial government of Ilocos Norte is out to further boost the Kapeng Ilokano industry through local partnerships.
Ilocos Norte Senior Board Member Matthew Marcos Manotoc said the provincial government, through the Environment and Natural Resources Office (ENRO) preparing for a tieup with a coffee development company to revitalize the province’s coffee industry.
Ilocos Norte Senior Board Member Matthew Marcos Manotoc
(Facebook / MANILA BULLETIN) “This is not only intended for massive coffee plantation,” Manotoc clarified. “The group would aid all the way from plantation to processing of the finished products up to marketing in coffee shops,” he added. He is hopeful that the llocos Norte coffee would hit a larger market base and be able to compete with the vastly popular 3-in1 coffee preparations. “Kasi alam ko rin na yung 3-in-1 ay hindi healthy – maraming asukal at may fake creamer, so sana ma-limit natin yung consumption ng 3-in-1, and at the same time ay mabigyan natin ng livelihood ang mga coffee farmers. We can be proud to have an Ilocano coffee,” he stressed. According to Manotoc, the memorandum of agreement (MOA) will be finalized soon, but implementation will take a few more years. “Hindi ito overnight process – magtatanim ka pa; maghihintay ka. I think the soonest we can have our home-grown coffee is mga two years pa.” He shared the positive outlook of the group after an ocular visit in Pagudpud, having assessed the climate and soil conditions. The partnership will involve a farmers’ cooperative with close coordination with the ENRO. “Hopefully, this will give them a reason to expand,” said Manotoc.
Ilocos Norte Senior Board Member Matthew Marcos Manotoc(Facebook / MANILA BULLETIN) “This is not only intended for massive coffee plantation,” Manotoc clarified. “The group would aid all the way from plantation to processing of the finished products up to marketing in coffee shops,” he added. He is hopeful that the llocos Norte coffee would hit a larger market base and be able to compete with the vastly popular 3-in1 coffee preparations. “Kasi alam ko rin na yung 3-in-1 ay hindi healthy – maraming asukal at may fake creamer, so sana ma-limit natin yung consumption ng 3-in-1, and at the same time ay mabigyan natin ng livelihood ang mga coffee farmers. We can be proud to have an Ilocano coffee,” he stressed. According to Manotoc, the memorandum of agreement (MOA) will be finalized soon, but implementation will take a few more years. “Hindi ito overnight process – magtatanim ka pa; maghihintay ka. I think the soonest we can have our home-grown coffee is mga two years pa.” He shared the positive outlook of the group after an ocular visit in Pagudpud, having assessed the climate and soil conditions. The partnership will involve a farmers’ cooperative with close coordination with the ENRO. “Hopefully, this will give them a reason to expand,” said Manotoc.