D.A. gung-ho in boosting Philippine coffee production

The Department of Agriculture (DA) has launched a major initiative to strengthen the country’s coffee industry with the creation of a dedicated Coffee Industry Development Office (CIDO).

Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. described the move as a strategic shift to address long-standing challenges in production, infrastructure, and market competitiveness.

Under Department Order No. 06, CIDO will operate under the Office of the Undersecretary for Special Concerns and Official Development Assistance (ODA), now led by Undersecretary Jerome Oliveros.

Consolidate coffee programs, policies and funding

The new office will consolidate coffee programs, funding, and policies that were previously dispersed across multiple DA units, providing the sector with its first centralized hub.

“The coffee sector has long been treated as a minor crop, yet demand is rising both domestically and globally. We cannot keep talking about its potential while farmers grow older, yields stagnate, and imports continue to rise,” Secretary Tiu Laurel said.

“By creating CIDO under focused leadership, we are putting strategy, funding, and execution in one accountable office. This is about restoring competitiveness and ensuring Filipino coffee farmers finally capture the value of a growing market.”

Challenges in the local coffee industry

The establishment of CIDO comes amid challenges in the local coffee industry, including aging farmers, limited access to inputs, outdated equipment, and inadequate infrastructure. These factors have contributed to declining yields, inconsistent quality, and increased reliance on imports to meet domestic demand.

CIDO will lead program planning, prioritize projects, track achievements across DA bureaus and regional offices, and ensure alignment with national agricultural priorities and ODA-funded initiatives. The office will coordinate with local governments, universities, private enterprises, and farmer groups, and propose policy reforms to address gaps in implementation.

Importantly, all coffee development funds, including those from the High Value Crops Development Program and the Office of the Secretary, will now fall under CIDO’s oversight.

Consolidating resources is intended to enhance accountability and accelerate project delivery.

Repositioning Philippine coffee

By establishing CIDO, the DA aims to reposition the Philippine coffee industry as a competitive, sustainable, and market-ready sector, providing tangible benefits for farmers while meeting the rising demand for quality coffee in the Philippines and abroad.