While the Ilocos region is known for tobacco producing region, not many are aware that the has also world class cacao which are also of high quality and has potential market abroad.
To be globally competitive, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) set up the Shared Service Facility (SSF) for Cacao Processing to Lorma Community Development Foundation Inc. (LCDFI) on February 15, 2019 in Mabanengbeng 2, Bacnotan, La Union. The project aims to address the processing and manufacturing gaps and bottlenecks in the cacao industry value chain.
There are various equipment that were provided to the cacao industry in the region to ensure that manufacturing of cacao’s will be efficient as the demand grows and these are stainless fermentation box, roasting machine, grinding machine stainless food grade table, chiller-freezer and others amounting to P900,000.
The provision of efficient facilities will allow processors to produce quality beans adhering to good manufacturing practices, increase production of fermented beans, as well as other cacao products at fairly competitive prices in the market.
Furthermore, the project will provide access and opportunities to improve production process to other micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) who are venturing into cacao processing within the neighboring municipalities.
DTI-Region 1 Officer-in-Charge-Regional Director Daria Mingaracal encouraged the cacao stakeholders to maximize the use of the SSF. She also appeals for the continuous collaborative efforts from the local government unit (LGU), cooperative members and the community especially that Bacnotan is now “sweeter” with the coming of the SSF on Cacao Processing. Bacnotan is known for its honey as their One Town One Product (OTOP).
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