KORONADAL CITY, SOUTH COTABATO — The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Region 12 led the recognition of farmers behind the most flavorful Robusta and Arabica coffee beans through the Kape Dose Coffee Quality Competition. The competition culminated on Friday, March 3, with an awarding ceremony in Isulan, Sultan Kudarat.
Rian Vonn Basco of Senator Ninoy Aquino, Sultan Kudarat, and Mario Joey Tacan of Polomolok, South Cotabato, owned the best Robusta and Arabica, respectively. Basco’s entry scored 84.33, beating 40 other Robusta entries from across the region, while Tacan’s entry scored 83.13, outdoing another specialty Arabica entry.
Dubbed the biggest and grandest competition for the best coffee in Region 12, the Kape Dose competition is a collaboration of DTI-12 with the Sultan Kudarat State University (SKSU), Department of Agriculture (DA) 12, Peace and Equity Foundation, ACDI VOCA, and Region 12 Coffee Council. The competition highlighted the highest-quality and most flavorful coffee beans, both Robusta and Arabica, from the region.
DTI 12 Regional Director Flora Politud-Gabunales said during the awarding ceremony that the competition provided an opportunity for coffee farmers and processors in Region 12 to showcase their products and gain recognition for their hard work and dedication to producing high-quality coffee. She also mentioned that while Region 12 is known as the top coffee-producing region in the Philippines in terms of volume, it is now time to position the region as a producer of the best quality Robusta and Arabica coffee.
The local trade chief expressed gratitude to the partner agencies and institutions, as well as to the participating coffee farmers for sending their entries to the competition.
DTI, through its Industry Cluster Enhancement (ICE) Program and Rural Agro Enterprise Partnerships for Inclusive Development and Growth (RAPID Growth) Project, has been providing technical assistance to coffee stakeholders across the value chain to improve product quality, entrepreneurial competence, and market outlet.
The Kape Dose competition used the SKSU Coffee Cupping Laboratory and Barista Training Center, a Shared Service Facility donated by DTI, for the assessment of the coffee entries.
As a partner in the event, Shunie Palacios, the Area Officer of the Peace and Equity Foundation, expressed optimism that the event would open economic opportunities to coffee communities in the region.
“Today, we shall open the door of hope to our coffee communities which will give them potential economic opportunities in the coming years. Our organization is just a tiny speck in the field of development. Hence, we appreciate all the partnerships we’ve made since 2018 because we can only do so much,” said Palacios.
The majority of the participating farmers were provided with technical knowledge on good agricultural practices in coffee through the Philippine Coffee Advancement and Farm Enterprise (PhilCAFE), a program funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and implemented by ACDI/VOCA.
During the awarding ceremony, ACDI/VOCA Chief of Party TJ Ryan mentioned that Fine Robusta and Specialty Arabica, coffee with a cupping score of 80 and above, could command a higher price depending on the quality and grade of coffee. He also emphasized the role of the Q Program in bringing specialized skills to coffee professionals worldwide to analyze coffee using the same standards everywhere.
Ryan also mentioned that a one percent increase in the price of coffee is associated with a three percent increase in rural employment.
Here is the complete list and cup scores of the Top 12 Robusta in the Kape Dose competition: 1st – Rian Vonn Basco of Senator Ninoy Aquino (84.33), 2nd – Agripino Sagayno of Kalamansig (84.20), 3rd – Bonifacio Noces of Senator Ninoy Aquino (83.96), 4th– Kubli Kusin of Maitum (83.83), 5th – Denz Bert Deramos (83.67), 6th – Cipriano Basco (83.58), 7th – Rudy Labindao of Lebak (83.31), 8th – Rogelio Colongan of Kalamansig (83.03), 9th – Edna Basco of Sen. Ninoy Aquino (82.67), 10th – Marcelo Dizon of General Santos City (82.38), 11th – Orlando Bayudan of Sen. Ninoy Aquino (82.25), and 12th – Reyjohn Basco of Sen. Ninoy Aquino (81.42).
Meanwhile, the Top Two Arabica in the Kape Dose competition are 1st – Mario Joey Tacan of Polomok (83.13), and 2nd – Rogelio T. Giangan of Makilala (80.75). The winners of the Kape Dose competition will represent Region 12 in the upcoming Philippine Coffee Quality Competition in May 2023. The PCQC is the biggest annual green coffee competition in the country sponsored by DTI, DA, Barista and Coffee Academy of Asia, with several coffee entries from Region 12 making it among the top winners since its inception in 2017. ♦
Date of release: 13 March 2023