23/05/2025
The Negros Oriental Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NOCCI), under the leadership of President Edward Du and Executive Director John Jalandoni, played a key role in the recent three-day Negros Oriental Cacao Provincial Commodity Investment Plan (PCIP) workshop—an initiative that signals a transformative step forward for the province’s cacao industry.
Held at Dumaguete Royal Suites Inn, the workshop formed part of the Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) I-PLAN Program and was designed to shape a comprehensive roadmap to accelerate the growth of cacao production and processing in Negros Oriental. The event gathered 35 cacao farmers representing several municipalities and cities including Ayungon, Bais City, Dauin, Jimalalud, Mabinay, Santa Catalina, and Valencia.
Participants also included prominent private agribusiness entrepreneurs and local cacao processors. Among the most recognized were Bais City Vice Mayor Mercy Teves Goñi of Chocolate de Mercedes, Engr. Wilfredo Algopera of Fred’s Dark Chocolate and Tablea, and Angel and Jomer Delgado of ChocoTab—each bringing real-world insights from the cacao value chain.
The workshop benefited from the expertise of national cacao authorities, including the Philippine Cacao King Val Turtur and former DTI Regional Director and National Cacao Cluster Coordinator Engr. Edwin Banquerigo. Their perspectives added depth to the formulation of a strategic investment plan aimed at scaling up production, processing, and global market pe*******on.
The output of the three-day session was a finalized Cacao PCIP, which will serve as a working blueprint to attract funding from national government agencies and international donors. The goal: position Negros Oriental as a world-class producer of premium cacao products. This roadmap outlines strategic interventions across the value chain, from farm productivity and processing innovations to market access and policy support.
NOCCI joins cacao industry workshop to advance Negros Oriental's agri-business sector