Malaysia Information Paper

th
The 20 ASEAN Cocoa Club (ACC) Meeting
17–18 May 2017
Manila, Philippines

AGENDA 9.4.5: COCOA FOUNDATION OF THE PHILIPPINES

LATEST REPORT FOR THE COCOA FOUNDATION OF THE PHILIPPINES INC.

2016-2017 ACTIVITIES

The Cocoa Foundation of the Philippines, Inc. (CocoaPhil) is in partnership with government
institution and private institutions both local and international. Below is the on-going activities
of CocoaPhil in partnership with public and private institutions:

I. Public – Private Partnership

• Local Government Units
Mayors of Alabat, Quezon, Governor of Pangasinan, Governor of Bicol,
Mayors of the Province of Mindoro and Romblon (1M-1.5M trees commitment)
• Department of Science and Technology
Technological upgrading of the local cacao industry
• Department of Agriculture
AMAS – Regional Cacao Forums
PHILMECH – Postharvest Operation Facilities for Quality Standards

II. Private – Private Partnership

• NLEX (North Expressway)
Joint venture on planting cacao along the toll quadrangle; social responsibility program
of Metro Pacific
• Farmers, Cooperative (southern Luzon)
• Retiring Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW)
• Retiring Professionals

The 20th ACC Meeting, 17–18 May 2017, Manila, Philippines Page 1 of 2
 III. Capacity Building
• Training (National Capital Region)
Participants are currently OFW, returning OFW, retiring professionals and their
farmers,
• Investment Forums (not funded by the government)

STATUS DEVELOPMENT OF THE COCOA INDUSTRY IN THE PHILIPPINES (2016-

2017)

Cacao is currently one of the priority crops identified by the Philippine government as socio-
economic gains for the country. The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) included
cacao in their Industry Strategic Science and Technology Plans (ISPs). The plan seeks to further
develop the cacao industry through science-based solutions and innovations. It is also a priority
crop under the High Value Crops Development Program of the Department of Agriculture (DA).
The targets of the current Philippine Cacao Road Map (2016-2022) are as follows:
• At least 100,000MT quality cacao beans by year 2022
• At least 50 million cacao trees producing 2.0kg dried beans equivalent per tree
• 100,000 farmers getting additional income of Php130,000.00 per hectare/year
• Additional export earnings of at least USD250 million

To date, the production capacity of the Philippines is around 12,000 metric tons annually. In lieu
of the Philippine cacao roadmap – target production of 100,000 metric tons by the year 2022-
cacao farmers has to plant 50 million cacao trees in the next seven years. This target is easily
achievable since the potential expansion for cacao growing is huge just utilizing the existing
coconut plantation of about 2,000,000 hectares.

The Cocoa Foundation of the Philippines, Inc. (CocoaPhil) together with the government and
other private sectors are doing extensive campaign on expansion of cacao production. This
campaign is through investment forum and capacity building conducted by both government and
private institutions to maximize the effort in production expansion.

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