On June 6, 2024, Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco, accompanied by her team from the Philippine Experience Program (PEP), visited Sultan Kudarat State University (SKSU) following a series of engagements at the Provincial Capitol of Sultan Kudarat, including the groundbreaking ceremony for the Tourist Rest Area in Tacurong City.
The visit featured a tour of SKSU’s Coffee Cupping Laboratory, located at the university’s Technology Innovation and Promotion Center (TIPC). Dr. Jesusa D. Ortuoste, OIC President; Dr. Mary Lynn G. Magbanua, VP-RDE; and Dr. Reynaldo H. Dalayap, Jr., VP-FARG, along with key officials, faculty, staff, and students, warmly welcomed Secretary Frasco. The university’s Teatro Kalakat Cultural Dance Troupe presented a vibrant cultural performance in her honor, while BS Tourism, and Hospitality and Management students from the Tacurong Campus greeted her arrival with flag-waving.
Director Samuel Mors D. Hilbero of the Coffee Cupping Laboratory introduced Secretary Frasco to the facility’s state-of-the-art equipment and showcased various grades of coffee produced by local farmers from Sultan Kudarat and the SOCCSKSARGEN Region. These farmers had recently competed in the Kape Dose Quality Coffee Competition. Secretary Frasco participated in the coffee cupping and tasting, expressing her admiration for the quality of the coffee and the meticulous preparations made by the university.
“I’m impressed,” Secretary Frasco remarked. “You have an excellent facility,” she added, clearly admiring the University’s efforts and the quality of the local coffee.
A memorable highlight of the visit was a coffee painting presented to Secretary Frasco by Mr. John Rey P. Aliwalas, a graphic artist from the Public Relations and Information Office.
Other notable attendees included Congresswoman Bai Rihan Mangudadatu Sakaluran of the SK 1st District, DOT Undersecretary Myrna Paz Valderrosa- Abubakar, Assistant Secretary Gissela Marie R. Quisumbing, Director Nelia R. Arina of DOT Region XII, and other distinguished delegates.
The Coffee Cupping Laboratory is committed to training and educating coffee farmers, enhancing their planning and management of coffee production. This initiative, launched in 2018 through a proposal to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), stems from a collaborative effort involving farming communities, the PHILCafe Program, ACDI VOCA, and the Provincial Local Government Unit (PLGU). These partnerships aim to maximize the facility’s use and generate income, significantly boosting the region’s economic impact. By improving productivity, competitiveness, and quality, this initiative supports Sultan Kudarat Province’s vision of becoming the coffee capital of the Philippines.
