TACURONG CITY, Sultan Kudarat (PIA) — Sultan Kudarat’s coffee farmers have once again demonstrated their excellence, emerging as strong contenders in the recent 2025 Kape Dose Coffee Quality Competition.
The province dominated both the Robusta and Arabica categories, reinforcing its status as the emerging coffee capital of the Philippines.
Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Regional Director Flora Politud-Gabunales praised the outstanding performance of Sultan Kudarat’s coffee farmers and reiterated DTI and the region’s strong support for the coffee industry.
“We are positioning Sultan Kudarat as the coffee capital of the Philippines,” she said. “Tayo ang number one sa produksyon, pero ngayon pinapatunayan natin na tayo rin ang may pinakamasarap na kape sa bansa (We are number one in production, but now we’ve shown that we also offer the best coffee in the country). Let’s raise our flag high and show everyone that the best coffee comes from here.”
During the competition, Orlando Bayudan from Midtungok, Senator Ninoy Aquino, won the championship title in the Robusta category.
His beans achieved an impressive final score of 88.14, the highest by far in the history of the competition—establishing a new standard for quality in Region 12.
Meanwhile, farmers from Senator Ninoy Aquino also excelled in the Arabica category.
Di Famor Gacayan from Barangay Malegdeg won the top prize for her specialty Arabica beans. Fellow Malegdeg resident Jessie Castor secured second place, while Ma. Fe Beatingco from Cotabato province took third place.
Every year, the Kape Dose Coffee Quality Competition honors and celebrates the best coffee producers in Region 12.
It also serves as a springboard for local farmers aiming to compete in prestigious national events such as the Philippine Coffee Quality Competition (PCQC).
Last year, Sultan Kudarat farmers earned national and international acclaim.
Reyjohn Basco’s Seven R Coffee was named Best Robusta Coffee in the Philippines during the 2024 PCQC, while Rebecca Gacayan’s Sultan Coffee won a Gourmet Medal at the AVPA Paris Gourmet Coffee Competition in France, further elevating the province’s global reputation.
With the ongoing support of local government units, active farmer groups, and micro-entrepreneurs, Gabunales is confident that Sultan Kudarat has showcased its leadership not only in coffee quantity but also significantly in quality. (ORVR, PIA Region 12)
