By Freddie G. Lazaro
Candon City, Ilocos Sur – The locally-produced Robusta coffee from Ilocos Sur was adjudged as the best-quality coffee in the recent 2018 Philippine Coffee Quality Competition held in Baguio City.
Director Florante O. Leal, regional director of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Region 1, said he expects bigger market opportunities for coffee produced in Ilocos Sur after the win.
The Robusta coffee entry of Rodolfo Aciong from Quirino town of the province bagged the 1st place award with a score of 85.96 in terms of quality.
Aside from Aciong, other coffee growers from Ilocos Sur made it as finalists in the national contest on product quality held last March 20-21, 2018.
They include coffee-entries of Luz Dalapuz from Gregorio Del Pilar – 3rd place; Ramon Polipol from Sugpon – 6th place; and Estela Salay from Salcedo, 12th place.
Meanwhile, the coffee entry of Oliver Oliem from Atok, Benguet emerged the 1st place in the Arabica category.