LAOAG CITY, Philippines — A partnership between the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources is underway to develop the coffee industry in the province.
Due to previous unsuccessful projects on coffee, Senior Board Member Matthew Marcos Manotoc desires for a “kapeng Ilocano” that will be an identity for the province.
“Hindi lang ito plantation. All the way from plantation hanggang processing, finished product, hanggang retail- kahit coffee shop,” Manotoc said.
This revitalized “Kapeng Ilocano” will be the province’s match against commercialized and mainstream three-in-one coffee.
“Puwedeng pang-coffee shop for all levels,” he added.
He underscored that this project shall also benefit the coffee farmers in Ilocos Norte.
Although “Kapeng Ilocano” will take a few more years before it will be officially launched as the Memorandum of Agreement is still in finalization stage, Manotoc hopes this will be a crowd favorite.
“We can be proud to have a homegrown coffee,” Manotoc said. (JNPD/MJTAB/PIA-1, Ilocos Norte)
