Batangas Coffee Federation member associations (BaCoFFed), together with the Batangas Provincial Agriculturist Office, DTI & DOST regional directors, BPI & HVCDP national offices, and Batangas governor’s office, conducted Batangas Coffee Day 2023 in support of International Coffee Day (& Month) at the Provincial Agricultural Office (PAO) compound. 

The program started with a Barako coffee tree planting, followed by messages from OIC Christopher Cruz of Crop Research & Production Support Division of BPI, National HVCDP Coffee Focal, Enrique Dela Cruz, Batangas PAO, Dr. Rodrigo M. Bautista, Jr., DTI Provincial Director, Ms Liela Cabreros, and a lecturette on coffee science touching on Stable Isotope & Multi-elemental profiles by Dr. Mel.Garcia of De La Salle Food & Water Institute.

Emphasizing the importance of Barako Coffee to Batangueños past, present, and future, Governor Dodo Mandanas, made a surprise but intended apprearance, and delivered his impassioned plea to the audience with the following directives:

1. Embrace change, technology, Innovation – and dont fight it!

2. Revive Liberica as true Barako Batangas heritage variety;

3. Ecourage & Involve the Youth;

4. Patronize, Promote our own variety/product – Barako;

5. Strengthen Research and explore farming digitalization;

6. Enhance Marketing to rival the best coffees;

7. Collaborate extensively with DA, DOST, DTI, LGUs and various private stakeholders to facilitate the rapid redevelopment of Liberica/Excelsa.

8. Know and educate consumers on health benefits of Barako coffee, especially on memory.

As an integral part of the program BaCoFFed president, Arnold Malbataan, held a Barako varieties Cupping activity to demonstrate the unique and distinct taste, aroma, and flavor of true and “pure” Barako.

Enrique Dela Cruz – HVCDP PMO