EDC hands over Asia Awards to coffee coop in Negros Oriental

DAUIN, Negros Oriental (PIA) — The Energy Development Corporation (EDC) has turned over the Outstanding Social Empowerment award that EDC received from the Asia Responsible Enterprise Awards to Baslay Highlands Agriculture Cooperative (BASHACO) in Barangay Baslay, Dauin town.

This award, given at the recent ceremony in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, underscores the program’s transformative impact on the community and its environment.

EDC’s corporate communications head France Ariola said EDC’s achievement of the Green Empowerment Award for their Baslay coffee project is a testimony to the project’s impact on community empowerment and sustainable agriculture.

By transforming former slash-and-burn farmers into environmental stewards, the program has fostered a profitable, scalable, and sustainable livelihood.

Forester and BASHACO chairperson Ruel Perez expressed hope that this recognition will inspire other communities to contribute to nation-building.

“As a mountain community, BASHACO has been a game changer for Baslay and other communities,” Perez said.

“BASHACO wants to inspire its members as well as the very active third generation to uphold the cooperative’s core values,” he added.

Genevie Rose, a 19-year-old second-year student and active third generation member of the BASHACO Young Farmers Club, is thankful for the opportunity to be part of the organization that helped them in their education.

“As a youth grateful kaayo mi na naa mi diri ug usa mi sa miyembro sa organisasyon kay una, makatabang kini kana usa na sa pag eskwela ug kami karon ga part time karon dayun grateful mi kay naa mi balon sa skwelahan tas daghan kaau learning ang makuha dri sama sa paguuma pag tanom ug gulay ug prutas ug learnings na gihare ni sir Ruel amo ni dad-on sa pag dako ug puhon maapply ni namo sa organization,” said Genevie.

(As a youth, we are grateful that we are here and we are one of the members of the organization because first, it helps us have an education. We are now part time and are grateful because we are able to have pocket money for school and learn a lot. Being here, I’ve learned a lot about farming, planting vegetables and fruits, and other teachings shared by Sir Ruel, which I hope to apply in our organization and in my future.)

The Baslay coffee project is situated within one of EDC’s critical watershed areas in Southern Negros.

Ariola said that EDC’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives extend beyond Negros, citing similar successful coffee projects in Leyte and Mt. Apo geothermal facilities, which are conducted in collaboration with indigenous communities.

Currently, the cooperative has 101 members since they started in 1989.

To date, the association communally owns a 220-hectare organic coffee forest mostly planted with Robusta (80 percent) and Arabica (20 percent) varieties on the foothills of Mt. Talinis, which is also the largest remaining forest patch in Negros Oriental.

Their local coffee has been subsequently identified as a proper and viable agricultural produce that the local community can bank on.

Baslay now produces Grade 1 specialty coffee grade as evaluated by the Department of Trade and Industry, selling for as much as P1,280 per kilo compared to mainstream retail coffee grounds selling at an average of P300 per kilo.

The coffee shop generates average revenues of up to P200,000 per month, while the cooperative store generates an average revenue of P190,000 per month.

Baslay is also now running the Highland Brew Coffee Shop in Dauin, serving meals and catering to small events. (JCT/PIA7 Negros Oriental with reports from SU Intern, Mary Rose Drotleff)

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