THE PHILIPPINE Cacao Industry Council Association and the Philippine Cacao Industry Council expect about 1,800 participants for the face-to-face National Cacao Congress on Nov. 24-25 at the SMX Convention Center in Lanang.
They are also expecting 78 exhibitors coming from the different areas in the country.
Charita Puentespina, a member of Philippine Cacao Industry Association, Inc., told reporters during Kapihan sa SM press conference on Monday that “we hope that being the host we should show what the industry has gone to help our accessors and farmers who have done cacao and chocolate growers.”
The event will showcase Davao City as the hub for cacao products.
She said cacao growers and chocolate makers around the country will be in Davao City to exhibit their products.
“There’s going to be exchanges of a lot of ideas as to what is the best way to take care of cacao trees since we have the problem of climate change. One of those is the launching of a guide on how farmers and stakeholders who would like to go on cacao farming will be guided on how to take care of their trees,” she added.
Also, Dante Muyco Jr., chairperson of Davao Regional Cacao Industry Development Council said they want to propel Davao City to the center stage in cacao development and make it synonymous when people think of Philippine chocolates.
“Second, we are celebrating our position as the national capital for chocolate and Cacao growth,” he said.
Delia Ayano, the assistant regional director of DTI XI, also said the National Cacao Congress aims to determine the global and local supply, the market conditions of cacao, assess cacao feasibility in different geographic locations, upscale and diversify to new innovations, ensure sustainability, and identify new cacao programs, activities and projects.
” Cacao is gold because in Cacao, we can really have money,” Ayano said.
The event is spearheaded by Philippine Cacao Industry Association and the Philippine Cacao Industry Council, together with the Department of Interior and Local Government, Department of Agriculture, DTI and other government agencies and private sectors.
