Bontoc – A total of 88 farmers from the six major coffee producing municipalities of Bauko, Besao, Bontoc, Sabangan, Sagada and Tadian graduated from the School on Air (SOA) Program on Coffee of the Department of Agriculture (DA) – Regional Field Office – Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR).
The graduation ceremony was held at the Multi-purpose Hall in the capital town on August 5, 2022.
The implementation of the SOA was made possible through the collaborative efforts of the DA-RFO-CAR through its Regional Agriculture and Fisheries Section (RAFIS) and through its High Value Crops Development Program, the Provincial Local Government of Mountain Province through its Provincial Agriculture Office, and the Municipal Local Government Units within the areas of coverage.
The SOA started from April 6 to June 16, 2022 and was aired via Radyo Sagada 104.7 Radio Station. The graduates have successfully complied with and passed the requirements of the SOA course’s quizzes and trivia and have undergone the onsite practicum.
During the graduation ceremony, June C. Pinayakan of the Provincial Legal Office extended the message of Gov. Bonifacio C. Lacwasan, Jr.. He congratulated the graduates and thanked the DA-RFO-CAR for coming up with programs to support the coffee industry in Mountain Province and at the same time, provide employment opportunities for the people of the province.
In his opening remarks, Bontoc Mayor Jerome B. Tudlong, Jr. urged the recipients of the program to apply the knowledge that they learned to enhance and improve their production methods for better coffee quality.
Meanwhile, Vincent Andawi, manager of the Sagada Arabica Coffee Growers and Processors Organization was invited as guest speaker to share his knowledge, expertise, and experiences in the coffee industry. As part of his message, he proposed to the other coffee growers and processors in the coffee-growing municipalities to create a coffee council or organization for them to be able to avail of the benefits that can come with it.
Moreover, District I Board Member Ezra Samson A. Gomez, Sangguniang Panlalawigan chair of the Committee on Agriculture and Agrarian Reform assured his office’s support to the programs of the agriculture department. He said that a strengthened partnership and collaboration among stakeholders will further improve the local coffee industry.
Also, in attendance to express the message of support of Cong. Maximo Y. Dalog, Jr. was Dionisio Wacdisen.
During the graduation rites, Mountain Province Provincial Agriculturist Dominga A. Cabatu presented the graduates while RAFIS Chief Aida Y. Pagtan conferred the graduates on behalf of DA-RFO-CAR Regional Executive Director Cameron P. Odsey.
Pagtan who also delivered the message of Director Odsey, said that the SOA program offered topics and practical guides from production to marketing to provide technical expertise from the invited local coffee subject matter specialists to enhance the quality of coffee being produced in the province.
In relation to this, she said that records of the DA show that coffee is among the most common beverages being consumed in the Cordillera region while specific varieties, particularly the Arabica Coffee, have gained popularity both in the local and global markets due to its quality.
Image source: Lanie Faith Lagob
Content taken from DA Cordillera Facebook page
