New office mandated to uplift coffee industry
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Agriculture (DA) has created an office dedicated to the development of the Philippine coffee industry amid the rising demand for this commodity.
The agency ordered the creation of the Coffee Industry Development Office (Cifo) via Department Order No. 06, with a mandate to resolve various challenges that hamper coffee production.
Despite the steady growth in local and global demand for coffee, the DA noted that several factors affect the sector, including insufficient infrastructure, obsolete basic equipment and facilities, outdated farming practices, aging farmer population and limited access to inputs.
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“In order to ensure the effective development and focused management of the Philippine coffee industry, and to enable the department to more efficiently carry out its objectives and programs for the sector, there is a need to establish an office dedicated solely to coffee industry development,” the issuance read.
“The establishment of a specialized office shall strengthen coordination, monitoring, supervision and strategic implementation of coffee development initiatives, programs and activities, as well as maximize the full growth and competitiveness potential of the Philippine coffee industry,” it added.
To achieve this goal, Cifo will coordinate and provide the strategic direction for identifying, prioritizing and implementing programs, projects and activities for the industry.
Development initiatives
The specialized office is also tasked with ensuring the alignment and integration of coffee development initiatives with national agricultural priorities, Official Development Assistance-funded projects and other donor-supported programs.
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The Cifo will coordinate with relevant DA national and regional offices, local government units, state universities and colleges, the private sector and farmer organizations to implement the programs.
It will monitor, evaluate and consolidate the accomplishments of different initiatives implemented by the DA, including its bureaus, attached agencies, regional field offices and partner institutions.
Furthermore, Cifo will identify policy, institutional and implementation gaps, as well as recommend applicable measures, reforms and interventions to the agriculture secretary.
The country’s green coffee bean production totaled 35,650 metric tons (MT) in 2025, up 11.5 percent from 31,980 MT a year ago, based on the data from the Philippine Statistics Authority. INQ
