BAGUIO CITY, (PIA) – The Department of Trade and Industry Region (DTI-CAR) is inviting Cordillera coffee growers to join the Philippine Coffee Quality Competition (PCQC) to improve their coffee quality and market access.
The PCQC is an annual event which is aimed at identifying and promoting the best quality coffees in the country to encourage producers to improve their coffee quality, and to promote these to domestic and international markets. It is the conducted with the support from government, private sector, and donor funded projects.
PCQC wants to see the best of the best coffees in the Philippines by performing evaluations aligned with grading and profiling protocols Coffee Quality Institute, and also to make our Philippine coffee known in the local and international markets, Karen T. Pagaduan said during the recent 1st Quarter meeting of the Regional Development Council- Sectoral Committee on Economic Development.
Pagaduan explained the competition process starts with the Coding wherein each entry is given a code to make sure that coffees are scored anonymously. Second will be the Green Grading where defects are identified and counted to identify the grading score. The 3rd process will be the Roasting where experienced professionals roast the coffees by following roasting protocols, and lastly, the Cupping where licensed graders perform sensory assessment.
To interested participants, here’s the PCQC Schedule: April 10 to12 - Request for Kits; April 16 to17- Sending Out Kits; April 22 to 30- Submission of Entries; May 2- All entries should be in BCAA Manila; May 3- Coding; May 6 to -7 Green Grading; May 9 to11 Roasting, and May 13 to17- Cupping.
The maximum number of participants to be accepted nationwide is 150.
Pagaduan shared that since the PCQC started in 2018, there were 73 Cordilllerans who participated in the event. The PCQC was cancelled in 2020 due to COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2018, Benguet coffee producers dominated the Arabica category with Oliver Oliem of Caliking, Atok, Benguet emerging the Top 1; Restie Labi Tacio, also of Caliking, Atok in third place, and Belen Macanes of Sagpat , Kibungan in fifth spot. Kelly Suits, Atok, Benguet; Donald Mapangdol from Otucan Sur, Mountain Province; Arthur Shontogan of Pico, La Trinidad, and Simon Basil of Tuba grabbed the 7th-10th spots, respectively.
In 2021, George Dapliyan from Sagada, Mountain Province was fourth placer.
Other PCQC winners include Zandra McFadden, Benguet State University , G Sip, Anielyn Tiongan, Lim’s and Martes Alodos.
Asiw’s Farm, and Olimpo Lumasoc, both from Kalinga, were also winners for the Robusta Coffee category.
Winners of the PCQC 2024 will be announced during Philippine Coffee Expo scheduled on June 7-9, 2024 at One Ayala Malls, Makati City. This 3-day event is an avenue for coffee stakeholders to converge, and tackle challenges and opportunities in the industry.
For further details, kindly visit the DTI office nearest you. (JDP/MAWC- PIA-CAR)
