THE DAVAO City Cacao Council is lobbying for a local ordinance to provide funds and help promote the local industry.
Wit Holganza, Davao City Cacao Council chairperson, said there is a need to institutionalize the presence of the industry for the city to keep the title as the chocolate capital of the country.
“Tinatrabaho pa ng Davao City Cacao Council ang pag-lobby for a local ordinance, creating the Davao City Cacao Council as key partner of local government and institutionalizing the Kasadya sa Kulturang Kakaw as a flagship event ng cacao, chocolate stakeholders ng city,” Holganza said during the Business Forum at Ahfat, NCCC Victoria Plaza on Friday.
To note, the Republic Act 11547, signed by former president Rodrigo Duterte in 2021, declared Davao City as the chocolate capital and Davao Region as the cacao capital of the country.
“In recognition of its status as the country’s biggest producer of cacao and its vital contribution in making the Philippines world renowned and sought after by chocolate makers from the U.S., Japan, and Europe, the City of Davao is hereby declared as the Chocolate Capital of the Philippines and the entire Region XI (Davao Region) as the Cacao Capital of the Philippines,” RA 11547 Section 2 reads.
However, Holganza recognized that there is no existing local ordinance in line with the national law, four years after its passage.
“Kailangan natin i-institutionalize ang presence ng ating Davao City Industry Development Council through a local ordinance para magkaroon ng budget appropriations,” she said.
The council, operating for more than 10 years now, has an active partnership with the City Agriculturist Office (CAgrO), such that its initiatives are born out of the budget appropriation of the CAgrO.
“Syempre mahirap din yun every year na lang kumakatok kami kung kani-kanino para humingi ng tulong,” she said, noting that the CAgrO cannot prioritize cacao industry over the other commodities.
Presently, the council is pushing to have a seat in the Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions (MICE) Board to establish cacao products as official gifts during MICE events.
Holganza said that for the whole country, the region accounts for about 75-80% of the total cacao yield, while 60% of the total volume of cacao beans for the whole region comes from the city.
“Anlaking contribution ng city both for the cacao bean production and for the chocolates dahil sa pinakamaraming chocolatiers and MSMEs in the city. Doon pa lang malakas na ang ating grip on the chocolate economy,” she stressed.
The ordinance will help advocate for regulatory policies, provide aid for cacao farmers experiencing challenges with input costs and their technical capacities and competencies.
Holganza said the production of cacao beans dropped by 30-50% due to input costs, land conversion, and degrading soil health.
