Deputy Director General Aniceto D. Bertiz III, represented by TESDA Women's Center (TWC) Chief Angelica Gonzales, stated during the two-day Coffee Expo Manila 2022 last Oct. 2 that TESDA has programs to boost the country's coffee industry.
"TESDA is actively collaborating with other government agencies and private businesses to advocate for and champion the various sub-sectors of the agriculture-fishery sector," he said.
"TESDA will continue to collaborate with various stakeholders and industries to continuously develop and improve our programs and services for the betterment of Filipino workers," he added.
The Coffee Expo Manila 2022 aims to gain access to entrepreneurs, decision-makers, and buyers in the Philippine Coffee Industry and the ASEAN Region, as well as to provide a platform for bringing in solutions, showcasing what's new, and providing learnings to help them advance their coffee, cacao, tea, and bakery businesses.
In response to coffee farmers' challenges, Bertiz stated that TESDA had developed various training regulations, such as Coffee Production Level II and Coffee Nursery Operation Level II, in collaboration with stakeholders.
The Coffee Production Level II training lasts at least 176 hours (22 days), whereas the Coffee Nursery Operation Level II training lasts at least 270 hours (34 days).
These courses, he claims, are being offered in eight training institutions across Benguet, Mt. Province, Cagayan, Bukidnon, and Sultan Kudarat.
Similarly, Bertiz stated that TESDA had signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with Nestle Philippines to assist coffee farmers, particularly in Sultan Kudarat and Bukidnon, in increasing their yields and establishing a more sustainable livelihood.
TESDA and Nestle Philippines have already trained 703 coffee farmers in Bukidnon and Sultan Kudarat as part of the partnership, which began in mid-2021.