The Department of Agriculture (DA) is seeking a 10-year, P10-billion funding commitment for the Philippine coffee industry, as the government steps up efforts to raise production, improve bean quality and strengthen farmers’ incomes.
DA Undersecretary Jerome Oliveros said the proposed Coffee Industry Development Act, now being pursued in Congress, would establish a long-term roadmap backed by dedicated legislative funding, giving growers and industry stakeholders greater certainty for investment.
“The Coffee Industry Development Act will definitely boost the coffee industry because it will be focused in one, a 10-year roadmap, and there will be a legislative budget that will be permanently allocated for the next ten years of around, hopefully, around P10 billion,” Oliveros said.
He added that a counterpart measure in the Senate is expected to be sponsored by Senator Pia Cayetano and other lawmakers.
Separately, Oliveros disclosed the approval of P3.6 billion for the Coffee Industry Development Office under the Philippine Sustainable Agricultural Transformation initiative. The funding is intended to support the sector’s development, although the proposed P10-billion allocation remains subject to legislative action.
The announcements came as the DA signed a partnership with Nestlé Philippines to establish coffee research facilities, conserve genetic resources and improve access to quality planting materials in Northern Mindanao.
The collaboration comes as the government seeks to address persistent constraints on domestic coffee production, including the need for better planting materials, stronger research capacity and improved farm productivity.
The DA is also updating the Philippine Coffee Roadmap for 2027–2031, with targets centered on higher output, improved quality and better returns for farmers.
Oliveros stressed that funding and planning must lead to tangible gains at the farm level, particularly as coffee growers face climate-related risks that can affect yields and crop quality.
“A roadmap matters when changes what happens in the farm. A research center matters when its work reaches the farmer,” he said.
The challenge for the government will be to translate proposed long-term funding, approved development financing and private-sector partnerships into measurable improvements in productivity and farmer livelihoods.
