ILOILO City – Cacao production in Western Visayas got the support of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) through the shared services facilities (SSF) project, a flagship program of the department to improve productivity and efficiency through the provision of better technology.
“Cacao has a very big potential. Even in the international market they are putting premium on Philippine cacao. That is proven by our competitive ranking against other cacao-producing countries,” said DTI Western Visayas director Rebecca Rascon.
The latest that was launched was the P2.9-million SSF for Cacao Processing in Capiz with the Capiz Cacao Industry Association (CCIA) as a co-operator on June 20 in Barangay Cogon, Panit-an.
DTI provided the P1.9-million worth of equipment while the Department of Agriculture (DA) provided the P1-million building.
The Department of Science and Technology will also provide technical support.
“It is intended to really produce from locally-grown cacao seeds some chocolates. It was launched for farmers to get encouraged to plant,” said Rascon.
With the SSF, farmers have a ready market for their products and no longer have to worry about the pricing of their cacao products.
Aside from Capiz, the DTI has provided an SSF for cacao to the New Lucena Panay Organic Producers Association (POPA) in New Lucena and San Lorenzo Farm in Dingle, all in Iloilo province.
In Antique their SSF was for the production of tablea but is geared towards the production of their brand of chocolate, Rascon added. (PNA)/PN
