BAUKO, Mountain Province(PIA)--Coffee production in the province gets a boost with the launching of its first coffee center.
Officials of the Mountain Province State Polytechnic College(MPSPC) with the Agricultural Cooperative Development International/Volunteers in Overseas Cooperative Assistance (ACDI/VOCA), the Department of Trade and Industry - Cordillera, Department of Science and Technology - Cordillera (DOST - CAR) and the Provincial Government of Mountain Province launched the Montañosa Coffee Center on December 21, 2022 at the CVSDREP Complex of the MPSPC in Baang, Bauko .
The program kicked-off with a ribbon cutting followed by a ceremonial tree planting.
Congressman Maximo Y. Dalog, represented by Atty. Cyphrine Y. Dalog, said that the launching of the Montañosa Coffee Center will not only showcase the different types of coffee in the province but it will also underline the continuous support to the coffee industry.
“This is a significant milestone as it does not only showcase our different types of coffee being grown in the province but it also underlines our continuing support to the growing coffee industry and our commitment to create share value for its various stakeholders especially our small-scale coffee farmers and our small-scale entrepreneurs, ” he said.
“May this MPSPC Montañosa Coffee Center change the lives of our coffee farmers, coffee buyers and coffee lovers and more importantly, may it build profit and recognition in favor of the college and the farmers as it aspires to become an institute for coffee excellence for Mountain Province, ” Dalog added.
Chief of Party of ACDI/VOCA Terrence J. Ryan represented by Ms. Christine D. Abellon, also shared his message of support to the launching activity.
“The establishment of the Montañosa Coffee Center will help improve the quality, efficiency, and sustainability of the coffee sector here in Mountain Province and the entire Cordillera Administrative Region including the nearby regions 1 and 2,” he said.
Governor Bonifacio C. Lacwasan, Jr. represented by Venus Padayao, assured the full support of the provincial government to the coffee sector in the province.
The activity was also highlighted with the signing of Memorandum of Understanding between MPSPC President Edgar G. Cue and the Western Red Berry Pickers Association represented by itsPresident Mr. Ricarte Guitelen , and with the De La Salle University represented by Dr. Emmanuel Garcia.
The launching was capped with a Seed to Cup experience wherein guests got to experience coffee picking, depulping, dehulling, drying, sorting and roasting in the center. They also tasted various coffee drink variations by student-baristas.(JDP/VJLT-PIA CAR)
