The Sultan Kudarat State University once again hosted the Kape Dose Coffee Quality Competition, spearheaded by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Region XII, held from April 1 to 4, 2024, at the Coffee Cupping Laboratory, Technology, Innovation, and Promotion Center (TIPC), SKSU-ACCESS, EJC Montilla, Tacurong City.
The competition saw participation from 71 coffee growers, with an impressive 58 hailing from the province of Sultan Kudarat, 5 from Cotabato Province, 4 from Sarangani, and the remaining 4 from South Cotabato. It was judged by 15 of the best coffee graders from across the country, led by Ms. Emeline Sabado, the director of the Filipino Coffee Institute, alongside Prof. Samuel Mors D. Hilbero, the SKSU Director for the Coffee Innovation Center.
The Kape Dose Coffee Quality Competition 2024 concluded with an Awarding Ceremony held at The Farm @ Carpenter Hills Convention Hall, Koronadal City, on April 5, 2024, where Dr. Mary Lynn G. Magbanua, Vice President for Research, Development, and Extension (RDE) of SKSU, delivered her message of support. Dr. Magbanua also received the Plaque of Appreciation for SKSU, recognizing the university as one of DTI’s hubs in producing quality coffee in the region.
Furthermore, the OIC Assistant Regional Director of the DTI, Mr. Rictoniel T. Reginio, in his message, reiterated that Region XII is the coffee capital of the Philippines, contributing 36% of the country’s coffee production, making it the largest coffee-producing region in the nation. Similarly, Mr. Ronan Eugene Garcia, the chairperson of the Region 12 Coffee Council, challenged coffee farmers to prioritize quality over quantity.
The top 3 winners in each category (Robusta and Arabica) will represent the region in the upcoming Philippine Coffee Quality Competition (PCQC), scheduled to take place in Makati City in May 2024.
The DTI XII’s Kape Dose Coffee Quality Competition, initiated in 2023, aims to enhance the lives of local farmers and processors while promoting the region’s quality coffee to a broader market.
