The Department of Agriculture’s Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP) has approved an additional P33 million to enhance the coffee industry in Sagada, Mountain Province. This funding marks a significant achievement for the Sagada Arabica Coffee Growers and Processors’ Organization, Inc. (SACGPO), as it is the first such project in the North Luzon Cluster under the DA-PRDP Scale-Up initiative, according to Jennilyn Dawayan, DA-Cordillera director and chair of the Cordillera Regional Project Advisory Board.
Sagada coffee, renowned for its distinctive flavor and aroma, commands a premium price of P1,000 to P1,500 per kilogram in the market. The Scale-Up component of the PRDP aims to support projects that have demonstrated success with initial funding, and the additional funds for SACGPO were approved during a meeting on January 30.
The organization initially received P3 billion in 2020 to improve its coffee processing operations. The new funding will finance the construction of the Sagada Roasterie, a state-of-the-art, FDA-compliant coffee processing facility complete with a cupping laboratory and advanced equipment to meet global standards.
As a key product under Mountain Province’s One Town, One Product initiative and a specialty of the Cordillera Administrative Region, coffee remains a focal point for the region. SACGPO manager Vincent Andawi has outlined a comprehensive business plan and reported securing marketing agreements with four establishments, with negotiations ongoing with two more.
The project is set to expand into the neighboring municipalities of Besao and Tadian to increase production while maintaining quality. Youth involvement is also being promoted to ensure the project’s long-term sustainability. Additionally, coffee is recognized by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources as a viable option for reforestation efforts.
Danilo Daguio, DA-CAR’s assistant director for technical operations and Deputy Project Director of the PRDP, emphasized the project’s importance to the region’s agri-tourism sector.