Having vast lands suitable for coffee production, the municipality of Tagbina remains a top producer in the whole province of Surigao del Sur. With this, the Department of Social Welfare and Development, through the Sustainable Livelihood Program (DSWD-SLP) a livelihood intervention related to coffee industry.

Selected Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program partner-beneficiaries in Tagbina were provided by SLP with one (1) set of LPG tank, burner, stove, and Capital Seed Fund (CSF) amounting to Php350,00 for the coffee production.

“Ang paglambo sa among kooperatiba nagsugod gayud kini sa kalisud, apan tungod sa mga pagpaningkamot sa mga miyembro inubanan sa nagkalain-laing ahensya hilabi na sa DSWD-SLP nga naghatag ug tabang (The progress of our cooperative started with hardships but because of striving efforts of the members along with the help coming from the different agencies especially from DSWD-SLP),” shares Leonardo Evangelista, chairman of Mabuhayan Kahayagan Coffee Grower Cooperative (MKCGC).

In partnership with various institutions and government agencies such as the Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and Nestle, the coffee farmers were able to acquire new technologies and have become self-sufficient on product quality and production.

“Ampingan ug palamboon  pa gyud namo kini nga business ug dili namo sayangan ang gihatag nila na tabang (We will not waste their help for us, thus, we will take good care of the business and make sure that it will continually prosper),” Leonardo concluded.

Today, the Café de Tagbina Robusta Ground Coffee is now sold during SLP bazaar/LGU initiated activities and even to the public market.###(MARY CARMELLE C. JUMAWAN/Social Marketing Unit/DSWD Field Office Caraga)