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Cheers for coffee: Public, private organizations unite for coffee farm development in Piddig

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Members of the Technical Working Group of the first Regional Convergence Initiative initiated by the local government unit of Piddig led by mayor Eduardo Guillen conducted a field inspection on Friday at the on-going organic coffee farm development in sitio Lammin, Barangay Dupitac, Piddig, Ilocos Norte. (Lei Adriano)






By Leilanie G. Adriano
Staff reporter

Laoag City, Ilocos Norte—Who can say no to coffee?


 For at least 18 national and local government organizations in Region 1, the awakening aroma of world-quality coffee which will soon be brewing in Piddig, about 18 kilometers from the Laoag International Airport gave birth to the first Regional Convergence Initiative (RCI) which is expected to boost agribusiness and eco-tourism development in the upland area of Piddig, which is covered by tall pine trees.

The technical working group tasked to extend support for the sustainable development of the P 62 million worth  Piddig coffee plantation initially funded by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources through its National Greening Program gathered at the Palacio de Hotel in Laoag City on Nov. 6 to provide their inputs and ensure successful implementation of the project.

Once fully developed, the total cost of the Piddig coffee plantation project is pegged at P400 million.

For the first time, the RCI meeting attended by mostly regional directors and heads of national agencies such as the  Department of Agriculture, Department of Environment and Natural Resources,     Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of Agrarian Reform,  Department of Social Welfare  and Development, Department of Tourism, Department of Science and Technology, Department of Interior and Local Government, Department of Health, Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Interior and Local Government, National Anti-Poverty Commission, National Commission On Indigenous People, National Economic Development Authority,  Cavite State University,   Benguet State University,  Mariano Marcos State University and the local government unit of Piddig under the new administration of town mayor, Engr. Eduardo Guillen who  proposed the coffee project for funding.


 Covering an area of some 1,130 hectares of lowland coffee (Robusta and Barako) and 560 hectares of highland coffee (Arabica) situated about 1,000 meters above sea level at Brgy. Dupitac, Sitio Lammin in Piddig town, the upland and lowland coffee farm had been already planted with at least 15,000 seedlings.


 Adopting the public and private partnership scheme in support of the National Convergence Initiative for Sustainable Rural Development under the Aquino administration, the Piddig coffee farm is expected to benefit almost 1,000 families or two hectares maintained by each family to have a regular income. Most of the beneficiaries include members of the 4Ps (Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program) including small and marginalized farmers and other individuals interested in agribusiness.

Seen to boost agri-business and eco-tourism development because of its cool weather surrounded by tall pine trees, the potential of coffee industry in the Philippines is huge as at least 85 percent of the coffee supply in the Philippines or 138 million kilograms worth Php 6 billion, is imported from Vietnam every year.  (Lei Adriano)
In 2013, the local government of Piddig and the Rocky Mountain Arabica Coffee Co. (RMACC), a leading producer and exporter of Arabica coffee in the Philippines agreed to partner for the development of a coffee plantation in Piddig.

Pierre Yves Cote, RMACC director, expressed support to the project saying his company would put up a modern eco-friendly coffee plantation and milling center in Piddig.

RMACC has been supplying quality grade coffee to at least 200 supermarkets and 150 hotels and restaurants in the Philippines, Canada and the United States.

Officials said the potential coffee industry in the Philippines is huge citing at least 85 percent of coffee supply in the Philippines, or 138 million kilograms worth P6 billion, is imported from Vietnam every year.

After the whole-day meeting, the participants conducted a project site inspection both at the on-going development of both upland and lowland coffee plantations in Piddig including the adjacent municipality of Carasi, Ilocos Norte. 
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