Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson on Friday renewed his call to strengthen the Philippine coffee industry not only to meet local demand but also to compete in export markets – after Brazil bared plans to expand its coffee market share in the Philippines.
Lacson said some areas in the Visayas and Mindanao can be developed as coffee plantation areas, although the Department of Agriculture (DA) needs to be empowered and supported through legislation to do this.
“Coffee is a regular part of a typical Filipino breakfast, lunch, dinner and afternoon meetings. Let’s develop our coffee industry not only for local consumption but to export. Hence, I filed Senate Bill 1556, establishing a Philippine national coffee industry development program,” he said on X.
In Filipino: Lacson, Isinusulong ang Pagpapalago ng Industriya ng Kape para sa Local at Export Markets, sa Gitna ng Expansion Plans ng Brazil
Coffee is a regular part of a typical Filipino breakfast, lunch, dinner and afternoon meetings. Let’s develop our coffee industry not only for local consumption but to export. Hence, I filed Senate Bill 1556, establishing a Philippine national coffee industry development program.…
— PING LACSON (@iampinglacson) February 27, 2026
He also noted that the DA may need to be empowered and supported through legislation, particularly in areas where coffee farms have been turned into subdivisions.
“As a matter of fact, some regions in Visayas and Mindanao may be suitable as coffee plantation areas. The DA needs to be empowered (and supported) by way of legislation. Vietnam is the second largest producer and exporter of coffee in the world next to Brazil,” he added in reply to a netizen’s comment on his post.
As a matter of fact, some regions in Visayas and Mindanao may be suitable as coffee plantation areas. The DA needs to be empowered (and supported) by way of legislation. Vietnam is the second largest producer and exporter of coffee in the world next to Brazil.
— PING LACSON (@iampinglacson) February 27, 2026
Earlier this week, Brazilian Ambassador Gilberto Fonseca Guimarães de Moura was quoted as saying his country wants to expand its share in value-added food markets like coffee, mineral water and liquor.
De Moura was quoted as saying Brazilian companies are aiming not just for niche markets but also the Philippines’ hotel, restaurant and cafe industry, food service sector, and specialized stores.
Lacson filed last November Senate Bill 1556, establishing a Philippine national coffee industry development program, after noting our local coffee growers face a daily fight for survival against imports and limited support from the Philippine government.
Senate Bill 1556 creates the Philippine Coffee Board to provide comprehensive support mechanisms for the coffee sector.
“This measure seeks to establish a national framework that will accelerate the development of the coffee industry, create a National Coffee Board, strengthen every link of the value chain, improve the country’s competitiveness, and reduce our heavy reliance on imported coffee,” Lacson said in his bill, titled the “Philippine National Coffee Industry Development Act of 2025.”
Under the bill, the State aims to transform the Philippines into a globally competitive producer and net exporter by 2035; improve the livelihood of small coffee farmers operating 95 percent of the country’s coffee farms; preserve and enhance our unique coffee varieties including Barako, Robusta, Arabica and Excelsa; ensure sustainable and climate-resilient coffee production; and develop world-class quality standards and value-added processing capabilities.
The bill shall cover all coffee farmers including smallholders who comprise 95 percent of farms under five hectares each.
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Lacson, Isinusulong ang Pagpapalago ng Industriya ng Kape para sa Local at Export Markets, sa Gitna ng Expansion Plans ng Brazil
Muling nanawagan si Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson nitong Biyernes na palakasin ang industriya ng kape sa Pilipinas — hindi lamang upang matugunan ang lokal na pangangailangan kundi upang makipagsabayan din sa export markets — matapos ihayag ng Brazil ang plano nitong palawakin ang market share nito sa Pilipinas para sa kape.
Ani Lacson, may mga lugar sa Visayas at Mindanao na maaaring i-develop bilang coffee plantation areas, bagama’t kailangan ng Department of Agriculture (DA) ng suporta dito sa pamamagitan ng batas.
“Coffee is a regular part of a typical Filipino breakfast, lunch, dinner and afternoon meetings. Let’s develop our coffee industry not only for local consumption but to export. Hence, I filed Senate Bill 1556, establishing a Philippine national coffee industry development program,” ani Lacson sa isang post sa X.
Dagdag ni Lacson, kailangang palakasin at suportahan ang DA sa pamamagitan ng batas para gawin ito, lalo na sa mga lugar kung saang ginawa nang residential subdivision ang mga coffee farm.
“As a matter of fact, some regions in Visayas and Mindanao may be suitable as coffee plantation areas. The DA needs to be empowered (and supported) by way of legislation. Vietnam is the second largest producer and exporter of coffee in the world next to Brazil,” aniya, bilang tugon sa comment ng isang netizen sa kanyang X post.
Ayon sa ulat, sinabi ni Brazilian Ambassador Gilberto Fonseca Guimarães de Moura na nais ng kanyang bansa na palawakin ang market share nito sa value-added food markets tulad ng kape, mineral water at alak.
Idiniin ni De Moura na layunin ng mga kumpanyang Brazilian na hindi lamang pumasok sa niche markets kundi pati sa hotel, restaurant at café industry ng Pilipinas, food service sector, at mga specialized stores.
Noong nakaraang Nobyembre, inihain ni Lacson ang Senate Bill 1556 na nagtatatag ng Philippine National Coffee Industry Development Program, matapos niyang banggitin na araw-araw na nakikipaglaban para mabuhay ang ating mga magsasaka ng kape laban sa pagdagsa ng imported na produkto at limitadong suporta mula sa pamahalaan.
Sa ilalim ng Senate Bill 1556, lilikhain ang Philippine Coffee Board na magbibigay ng komprehensibong mekanismo ng suporta para sa sektor ng kape.
“This measure seeks to establish a national framework that will accelerate the development of the coffee industry, create a National Coffee Board, strengthen every link of the value chain, improve the country’s competitiveness, and reduce our heavy reliance on imported coffee,” ani Lacson sa kanyang panukala na pinamagatang “Philippine National Coffee Industry Development Act of 2025.”
Sa ilalim ng panukala, layon ng Estado na gawing globally competitive producer at net exporter ang Pilipinas pagsapit ng 2035; mapabuti ang kabuhayan ng maliliit na magsasaka ng kape na bumubuo ng 95 porsiyento ng mga coffee farm sa bansa; mapanatili at mapahusay ang mga natatanging uri ng kape tulad ng Barako, Robusta, Arabica at Excelsa; tiyakin ang sustainable at climate-resilient na produksyon; at paunlarin ang world-class quality standards at value-added processing capabilities.
Saklaw ng panukala ang lahat ng coffee farmers, kabilang ang mga smallholder na bumubuo ng 95 porsiyento ng mga sakahang may sukat na limang ektarya pababa.
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