THE provincial government of Sultan Kudarat sets its sights on becoming the coffee capital of the Philippines.
This ambitious goal is spearheaded by the country’s youngest governor, who leads the province.
Filipinos are known for their love of coffee.
It is a staple beverage consumed by Filipinos throughout the day, from breakfast, during work breaks, and even dinner. Many also favor it hot despite the scorching weather.
Here on the island of Mindanao, there’s a brewing change, as it is now emerging as the next big player in providing this world-class liquid gold.
And Sultan Kudarat Province stands out for its dominance in coffee supply.
According to Governor Datu Pax Ali Mangudadatu, 30% of the Philippines’ coffee supply originates from his province.
“We are the province that gives the biggest supplies of coffee products, and [Our province] is the reason why… out of the 100% of the country’s very own local production of coffee, 30% comes from Sultan Kudarat,” according to Gov. Datu Pax Ali Mangudadatu, Province of Sultan Kudarat.
The Philippine coffee industry requires 50,000 Metric Tons of coffee annually.
But only 9,000 metric tons of coffee are produced each year.
As of December 2020, the Department of Agriculture reported that the Philippines only fulfills 15 percent of its coffee requirements.
Despite this, Governor Mangudadatu sees coffee production as a solution for poverty alleviation by providing livelihood for the residents of Sultan Kudarat.
“So it only tells us that coffee is a very big thing. Not just for consumption but as a solution for poverty alleviation. That’s the directive that we gave to the coffee council to ensure that this opportunity for livelihood,” he added.
They say that coffee is the second most important commodity after oil products.
An annual budget of at least P4.2 billion is required to implement the updated Philippine Coffee Industry Road Map.
This roadmap aims to increase the country’s coffee self-sufficiency to 47 percent by 2027.
Despite the challenges, Governor Mangudadatu expressed confidence in achieving their goal.
“But regarding infrastructure that helps our people, we’re not just planning; we’re actually doing it,” he stated.
“We are very confident that we are the coffee capital for many thanks. Number 1, we prioritize the coffee industry. Number 2, we are the biggest coffee producer,” he added.
