VIGAN CITY, Ilocos Sur (PIA) – The coffee farmers from this province who bagged the top spots at the 2023 Philippine Best Coffee Quality Competition – Robusta Category received certificates of recognition and cash incentives on Friday, November 20.
These prizes were handed by the Provincial Government of Ilocos Sur, along with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Ilocos Sur and the Ilocos Sur Export Enterprise and Development Marketing Cooperative, at the culminating ceremony of the Ilocos Sur Coffee Festival in this city.
Vilma Lasana (at the center) of Gregorio del Pilar, Ilocos Sur, top 1 at the 2023 Philippine Best Coffee Quality Competition – Robusta Category receiving the provincial government’s recognition. (PIA/ATV)
Vilma Lasan from Gregorio Del Pilar town secured the top spot and received P50,000. Mabini Ubuan of Sigay town claimed second place, earning P45,000. Juana Bitongan from Gregorio Del Pilar took the third spot with a cash prize of P40,000, while Marietta Lidem of Sigay, who landed fourth, received P35,000.
Lasan said, “Agyamanak ti provincial government ken ti DTI iti kanayon a panangsuportada kadakami a coffee growers. Agyamanak unay aglalo daytoy incentive a naawatmi ado ti maitulongna. (Nagpapasalamat ako sa provincial government at sa DTI na laging sumusuporta sa aming coffee growers. Nagpapasalamat din ako lalo dito sa insentibang natanggap namin na malaki ang maitutulong.)”
Governor Jerry Singson said in his message during the ceremony, “We will continue to work on the development of our local packaging, production of our single origin beans, and protecting our growers for a fare-trade coffee.”
Singson said that to achieve these, it needs a mixture of unified effort from all the stakeholders.
Governor Jerry Singson of Ilocos Sur acknowledging the coffee farmers in the province during the 2023 Coffee Festival. PIA/ATV
“This is why I appeal to all of you to take this shot together. As a province we pump up and take pride in the varietal character of our own produced coffee beans,” Singson said.
The other winners also received cash incentives ranging from P8,000 to P30,000 incentive respective to their ranks.
Meanwhile, for the consolation, 13 of the coffee farmers received P5,000 each, along with their certificates. (JCR/MJTAB/ATV, PIA Ilocos Sur)
