KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato (PIA) -- Soccsksargen’s coffee has gotten better in quality, according to a coffee grading expert.

"The coffee in Soccsksargen has dramatically increased in quality,” Emeline Sabado, executive director of the Filipino Coffee Institute and head judge of the Kape Dose Coffee Quality Competition 2024, said.

The Kape Dose Coffee Quality Competition is led by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in the region in cooperation with the Department of Agriculture, the Sultan Kudarat State University, the Peace and Equity Foundation, the Mahintana Foundation, Inc., the Filipino Coffee Institute, and the Coffee Council of Region 12.

“Based on our experience, we were cupping the best coffee in the country. We feel like we were already in the PCQC (Philippine Coffee Quality Competition),” she stated, comparing their recent judging experiences with those of the first Kape Dose competition in 2023.

“Last year, we had difficulty judging because the quality was only average. But this time, judging was extremely hard because what we were judging was the best coffee,” she further emphasized.

Sabado attributed this feat to the farmers who meticulously applied proven practices for the production of quality coffee and the concerted efforts of government agencies and private institutions that collaborated to advance the region’s coffee industry.

In the recently concluded Kape Dose competition, coffee farmers from Malungon, Sarangani, and Alamada, Cotabato Province, were honored as producers of the best coffee in Region 12.

Renny Boy Takyawan of Lower Mainit, Malungon, Sarangani Province, and Elizabeth Aleria of Dado, Alamada, Cotabato Province bagged the top prizes in the Robusta 125 kg and Arabica 125 kg categories, respectively.

Takyawan and Aleria, as well as other coffee farmers whose coffee entries in the 125-kg categories garnered scores of 80 or more, are qualified to participate in the Philippine Coffee Quality Competition in May.

Kape Dose Coffee Quality Competition is tagged as the biggest and grandest competition for best coffee in the Soccsksargen Region.

Specifically, the competition aims to advance the welfare of local coffee farmers and promote the quality of coffee in the region.

"At the Department of Trade and Industry, we aim to bring impactful and enduring interventions to help local coffee farmers and processors improve their coffee production and products and have a better market, ultimately raising the bar for Region 12 coffee," Director Flora Politud-Gabubales said.

Gabunales noted that entries in last year’s Kape Dose competition, which were graded as fine and specialty coffees, have fetched 100 to 300 percent higher buying prices as compared to commercial coffee produced by farmers.

“This is empirical proof that through good agricultural and manufacturing practices, we increase the value of Region 12's coffee and thereby trickle down a ripple of social and economic benefits,” she noted.

Moving forward, DTI invites the general public to patronize the best coffee in Region 12.

“Kape Dose also serves as the region's official seal of coffee quality. Therefore, when you buy coffee products, look for those with the holographic Kape Dose sticker, as these guarantee quality and authenticity,” said the official.

Below are the winners of the Kape Dose Coffee Quality Competition 2024.

ARABICA 125-KILOGRAM CATEGORY

Winner: Elizabeth Aleria, Dado, Alamada, Cotabato Province

ROBUSTA 125-KILOGRAM CATEGORY

1st Place: Renny Boy Takyawan, Lower Mainit, Malungon, Sarangani Province

2nd Place: Freddie Santiago, Sitio Sewal, Kuden, Senator Ninoy Aquino (SNA), Sultan Kudarat, and Robert James Gacayan, Malegdeg, SNA, Sultan Kudarat

3rd Place: Tupi Coffee Growers' Association, Inc., Brgy. 3A, Poblacion, Tupi, South Cotabato.

ARABICA 50-KILOGRAM CATEGORY

1st Place: Ylaine Giangan, Makilala, Cotabato Province

2nd Place: Jessica Taranza, Midtungok, SNA, Sultan Kudarat

3rd Place: Gemma Andot, Ilomavis, Kidapawan City

ROBUSTA 50-KILOGRAM CATEGORY

1st Place: Rey John Basco, Kuden, SNA, Sultan Kudarat

2nd Place: Rian Vonn Basco, Kuden, SNA, Sultan Kudarat

3rd Place: Albert Pending, Tango, Glan, Sarangani Province

SPECIAL AWARDS: 

Rian Vonn Basco of Kuden, SNA - Best Natural Process, Robusta 50-kg category

Rey John Basco of Kuden, SNA -  Best Natural Process, Robusta 50-kg category

Bernabe Espino of Bugso, SNA - Best Honey Process. (DED - PIA Region 12)