Senate President Pro Tempore Ping Lacson renewed his call to strengthen the Philippine coffee industry not only to meet local demand but also to compete in export markets – after Brazil bared plans to expand its coffee market share in the Philippines.
Lacson said some areas in the Visayas and Mindanao can be developed as coffee plantation areas, although the Department of Agriculture (DA) needs to be empowered and supported through legislation to do this.
“Coffee is a regular part of a typical Filipino breakfast, lunch, dinner and afternoon meetings. Let’s develop our coffee industry not only for local consumption but to export. Hence, I filed Senate Bill 1556, establishing a Philippine national coffee industry development program,” the veteran legislator said on X.
The senator also noted that the DA may need to be empowered and supported through legislation, particularly in areas where coffee farms have been turned into subdivisions.
“The DA needs to be empowered (and supported) by way of legislation.”
“As a matter of fact, some regions in Visayas and Mindanao may be suitable as coffee plantation areas. The DA needs to be empowered (and supported) by way of legislation. Vietnam is the second largest producer and exporter of coffee in the world next to Brazil,” he added in reply to a netizen’s comment on his post.
Brazilian Ambassador Gilberto Fonseca Guimarães de Moura was earlier quoted as saying his country wants to expand its share in value-added food markets like coffee, mineral water and liquor.
De Moura was quoted as saying Brazilian companies are aiming not just for niche markets but also the Philippines’ hotel, restaurant and cafe industry, food service sector, and specialized stores.
“Our local coffee growers face a daily fight for survival against imports and limited support from the Philippine government.”
Lacson filed last November Senate Bill 1556, establishing a Philippine national coffee industry development program, after noting our local coffee growers face a daily fight for survival against imports and limited support from the Philippine government.
Senate Bill 1556 creates the Philippine Coffee Board to provide comprehensive support mechanisms for the coffee sector.
“This measure seeks to establish a national framework that will accelerate the development of the coffee industry, create a National Coffee Board, strengthen every link of the value chain, improve the country’s competitiveness, and reduce our heavy reliance on imported coffee,” Lacson said in his bill, titled the “Philippine National Coffee Industry Development Act of 2025.”
Under the bill, the State aims to transform the Philippines into a globally competitive producer and net exporter by 2035; improve the livelihood of small coffee farmers operating 95 percent of the country’s coffee farms; preserve and enhance our unique coffee varieties including Barako, Robusta, Arabica and Excelsa; ensure sustainable and climate-resilient coffee production; and develop world-class quality standards and value-added processing capabilities.
The bill shall cover all coffee farmers including smallholders who comprise 95 percent of farms under five hectares each.
