Various coffee enthusiasts and enablers attend the very first Iligan City Coffee Industry Summit to establish a local coffee council. These enthusiasts include local coffee farmers/producers, coffee traders/consolidators, and coffee shop owners. While the enablers refer to the support matrix of the industry that consists of the Local Government Unit, National Agencies, Non-Government Organizations, and the Academe sector.
During the summit, opportunities to cascade and brainstorm ideas of coffee lovers came together and explored the world of coffee. Moreover, the main objective of the summit is to promote and cultivate local coffee products as the primary ingredient in the local market and thus, a possible exportation towards the neighboring cities in Lanao del Norte and Northern Mindanao.
Furthermore, local dignitaries were also present at the event. Chief-of-Staff of the city mayor, Mr. Jules Verne A. Padilla, ensures that the current administration will be the first in line to adhere to the local products of the farmers here in Iligan. He furthermore added that the different government branches of the LGU will be interdependent in terms of due processing from legislation, to city ordinances, and execution.
Coun. Atty. Betsy Zalsos, CPA, showcased her whole support at the summit. She also added that as consumers of coffee in the modern world, in order to boost and sustain the economic drive and local livelihood of the city, traders and processors must always prioritize first local products from the hinterland farmers, especially those who belong to the indigenous groups since coffee has become an increasingly important part of modern culture and has had significant impacts on society, the economy, and the environment.
National Agencies were also present to witness and pledge their support to the said endeavor. Agencies like the Department of Agriculture
(DA), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), TESDA, and other relevant agencies like the Philippine Crop Insurance Corp. (PCIC), Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), and the Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC), and as well as Non-Government Organizations like the PAILIG Development Foundation, and Ecosystems Work for Essential Benefits (ECOWEB).
More importantly, Ms. Reggie Punongbayang, president of the Iligan Chamber of Comers and the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) was also present at the event. She then reinstated the profound impact of coffee on the modern world, and its popularity and importance to continue for generations to come.
Ultimately, bringing coffee to market is a complex process that requires careful attention to detail at each step. However, with the supervision of Ms. Marie Ann J. Beley, the City Agriculturist of Iligan. together with Mr. Kevin R. Fernan, Focal Consultant on Agriculture, it is much possible that centralizing coffee endeavors to uphold local products will be possible in order to sustain the economic drive of the city.
