This one-day hands-on session on May 14 was organized by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Cagayan Valley-Quirino Provincial Office.
DTI Provincial Director Rowena Mayangat said the training was meant to give organized farmers in Barangay Magsaysay both the technical knowledge and the practical skills to process cacao from bean to finished tablea. Tablea, she said, is a traditional Filipino product made from pure ground cacao, molded into tablets and used for hot chocolate and other dishes.
The aim, Mayangat explained, is to help farmers broaden their sources of income. The program also fits into a wider effort to promote livelihoods that encourage environmental stewardship while strengthening the economic footing of upland communities.
“The collaboration between DENR and DTI reflects our commitment to help communities develop sustainable industries while encouraging the responsible use and protection of natural resources,” she said.
Guiding the farmers through the process was facilitator Jemimah Saguilon. Step by step, she walked them through postharvest handling, roasting, grinding and molding the cacao into smooth, dense tablets. Hands that were accustomed to harvesting and drying learned a new rhythm at the grindstone.
For Corazon Mabborang, Community Environment and Natural Resources officer, the training ties economic opportunity to the land itself. She stressed that sustainable cacao production can give upland communities a way to earn while supporting the protection and preservation of nearby forests.
“The initiative is expected to open more productive and sustainable economic opportunities for farmers through value-adding activities in cacao production while supporting environmental preservation efforts in upland communities,” Mabborang said.
To Melinda Ayado, chairman of the farmers’ association, the day marked a practical shift for her members.
“This training is a big opportunity for our association because we learned a new livelihood that we can use to help support our families,” Ayado said. “We are thankful to DENR and DTI for bringing this kind of program to our community.”
The activity is part of a continuing push by government agencies to bring skills-based programs to upland areas in Quirino, linking farm work to resource management. By processing cacao at the farm level, organizers said, farmers can capture more value from their harvest, rather than relying solely on raw bean sales.
In the Cagayan Valley region’s upland and agroforestry zones, cacao is one of the crops being promoted alongside trees. Intercropping helps maintain soil health and forest cover while giving farmers a product that can move beyond the raw market.