DOST - CAR officials headed by Regional Director Nancy Bantog in a photo opportunity with partners from PAGASA, Philippine Science High School and DOST program beneficiaries during the Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas.
BAGUIO CITY (PIA) — A project proposal from a female entrepreneur and a science and technology-based intervention from the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) have boosted the cacao industry in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR).
Eva Ritchell Padua, Benguet’s first “Bean to Bar” chocolate processor, and owner of Dulche Chocolates Inc., has been working closely with local farmers to produce high quality cacao beans and develop the cacao industry in Baguio City, Benguet province and other parts of the region since 2017.
In 2022, with the assistance of DOST – CAR through the Benguet Provincial S&T Center, Padua’s project proposal was approved under the Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST – PCIEERD) “Women – Helping – Women Innovate Social Enterprise (WHWise) program.
Her project titled, “SWEET PH – C: Standardization of Ways in Enhancing and Establishing Techniques in Processing Highland Cacao,” got P4,747,472.00 funding.
The intervention covered capacity building on cacao seedling production, crop management, harvesting, post-harvest and processing; conduct of DNA test for cacao plants samples; provision of processing equipment; mechanical dryer, moisture, roaster, grinder, stainless processing table, chocolate melanger and chiller. These helped improve production, enhancing the chocolate processing and product line.
With the project, 1,922 farmers are now engaged in the cacao industry and more than 400,000 cacao trees were planted.
Padua also assisted cacao farmers to venture into tablea and chocolate production. According to her, tablea from highland-grown cacao has a distinctive taste.
“Napakalaki po ng impact nito, dahil yung mga tableaprocessors natin nagpa-process na din po sila ng chocolates and yung mga cacao farmers naman po natintumaas na po yung yield ng harvest nila,”she said.
Padua is determined to continue helping more farmers engage in cacao production and into becoming chocolate makers.
”Hindi ko po mapo-promote ang cacao kung sinasarili ko lang siya. Naniniwala pa ako na if I develop other chocolate makers, may katulong po ako sa pagkuha (buyer) ng mga supply ng cacao at mai-encourage po namin ang mga cacao farmers (to plant more)”, she said.
Padua is inspired by the potential of the highland cacao industry. The Dulche Chocolates in 12 bean-to-bar flavors have reached international markets in Hongkong, US, Korea, Australia, and Canada. Another prospective client is New Zealand.
The Dulche Chocolate House is located at Purok 18 in Irisan, Baguio City.
In 2024, Dulche’s Chocolates was among the BPI SinagElevate 2024 Social Entrepreneurship Challenge national winners recognized for uplifting social enterprises in the country.
Padua is the chairperson of the recently formed Cordillera Cacao Industry Development Council. (JDP/CCD with Jairuzs Cardinoza/PIA – SLU Intern)
