CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — The local government here is considering the establishment of an International Coffee Research and Development Center aimed at enhancing the coffee industry across Mindanao.
The Cagayan de Oro Trade and Investment Promotions Center (ORO TIPC) highlighted the city’s potential to significantly contribute to the coffee sector, citing its expansive agricultural lands in hinterland barangays. Plans are underway to locate the center in Barangay Dansolihon.
“We will centralize our development efforts here, but our services will cater to all of Mindanao because the largest coffee-producing region is in Mindanao, specifically in Sultan Kudarat,” explained John Asuncion, Local Economic Development and Investment Promotions Officer at ORO TIPC.
Recently, Cagayan de Oro hosted the Philippine Coffee Roasting Competition, organized in collaboration with the Philippine Coffee Institute, Department of Agriculture, and ORO TIPC. The competition attracted participants from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, with international coffee roasting experts serving as judges.
“We brought the competition here to Cagayan de Oro to elevate our industry standards in coffee,” Asuncion remarked.
The local government expressed optimism that enhancing coffee quality will create more opportunities for coffee farmers in the city.