GOVPH

𝐍𝐏𝐂 𝐋𝐅𝐈 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐞 𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐍𝐏𝐂-𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐳𝐞𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐞 𝐟𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐬' 𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐁𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐞𝐭

Over the long weekend, the NPC Ladies Foundation Inc.’s Board of Trustees, headed by its President, Dr. Ginny Roxas, turned over a 15-kilogram coffee roaster to Cobabeng-Bobok Arabica Planters Association (CBAPA) and Bobok Arabica Coffee Producers Association, Inc. (BACPAI) in Bokod, Benguet.  

BACPAI President John Suguaran expressed his gratitude for the coffee roaster and delights that the usual two (2) hours of roasting of their coffee beans will now only take 15 minutes. “Sa tulong nito, mas marami na kaming mapo-produce na mga kape,” Mr. Suguaran said. Bokod Vice Mayor Erik Ignacio also thanked the LFI for the gesture and shared how coffee is a major component not just of the people’s livelihood but their everyday lives as well.  

“Dito sa’min, ang good morning namin ay ‘kala man kape!’ tara’t magkape,” shared Vice Mayor Ignacio. 

NPC LFI President Ginny wished the coffee farmers a fruitful harvest and a flourishing business with the help of the roaster.  

“Alagaan nyo po sana ang roaster upang magamit nang matagal,” she quipped. The turnover program also consisted of a cultural dance led by Bokod Mayor Thomas Wales, Jr. and a maiden coffee roasting participated by the NPC LFI Board of Trustees – Ms. Ma Annabel Versoza, Ms. Lorlina Bomediano, Ms. Eloida Leona and Ms. Lolita Chavez.  

CPABA’s Ms. Josefa Bengeg, who shared the process of producing coffee from fresh beans to roasted coffee beans, also conveyed her thanks to NPC and NPC LFI.  

“Coffee farming has only been a backyard hobby of our ancestors before, just for our consumption, today, it has been our major source of livelihood,” said Ms. Bengeg.  

It can be recalled that in 2015, NPC signed a memorandum of agreement with CBAPA for the establishment of a 107-hectare coffee plantation in Bobok-Bisal and Cobabeng, Poblacion. The MOA covers and continues to benefit around 100 family beneficiaries.  

Mr. Emmauel A. Umali, NPC’s OIC for Corporate Affairs and Watershed Management Department Manager conveyed his appreciation for the success of the partnership and expressed his confidence that the current 107-hectare plantation can be doubled soon with the association’s efforts and help.