Davao City, through the Davao City Agriculturist’s Office (CAgrO), will be celebrating the World Chocolate Day at the Abreeza Mall on July 7 to 9.
CAgrO Cacao and Durian Focal Person Fe Oguio said that since the city has been hailed the Chocolate Capital of the Philippines, celebrating the World Chocolate Day in the heart of the city will further promote local products of Dabawenyo cacao farmers.
“We will have mas gipadak-an na activity for the World Chocolate Day. So July 7-9 naa tay trade exhibit na himuon sa Abreeza Ayala Mall diin ma-showcase dira ang mga local brands. (We will have a much bigger activity for the World Chocolate Day. So on July 7-9 we have a trade exhibit in Abreeza ayala Mall where local brands will bae showcased,” Oguio said during the I-Speak media Forum on Thursday.
Oguio said the chocolate trade exhibit will further strengthen the cacao market in the city and promote competitiveness among local producers.
To further promote the city’s local cacao products, the CAgrO launched the Tableya and Pasalubong Center located on Maya Street, Ecoland last week.
“It’s a way for our local population, our Dabawenyos, maka-access sa (to access) readily available products, especially since Davao City has been declared the Chocolate Capital of the Philippines so garbo gyud na nato (so we should really take pride in that),” said Oguio.
The center is also an avenue to promote and market our local cacao and durian products as ‘pasalubong’ items for tourists and visitors.
“Halos ang tanang cacao exporters naa diri nag-base sa Davao City kay naa man diri ang dako na bulto ug naa pud diri sa atoa ang mga seaports para madali ang ilang shipment (Almost all cacao exporters are based here in Davao City since this is where the bulk of the raw materials are produced and the seaports are also here so that makes for convenient shipment),” Oguio said.
She added that Davao City produces cacao all year-round, but the bulk of production is in September to December, largely coming from Calinan, Baguio, Marilog and some parts of Paquibato where elevation reaches 500 meters above sea level and higher.
Last year, Davao City’s 5,815 hectares of cacao land area produced around 4,500 metric tons of cacao— this makes up around 70 percent of the total cacao production of the country.
The World Chocolate Day celebration will also serve as a prelude to the Kadayawan Festival. CIO
