The 9th La Trinidad Coffee Festival was officially opened today, February 18, at the La Trinidad Municipal Grounds, celebrating coffee as an important high-value commodity of Benguet and the Cordillera region. The theme of this year’s event is “Seng-ew ni Kape, Ulnos di Umidi” (Brewing Unity Through Coffee), which emphasizes the vital role of coffee in strengthening unity and bonds among communities.
During the opening of the program, Municipal Agriculturist Nida Organo reported on the state of the coffee industry in La Trinidad, Benguet, and emphasized the importance of encouraging the youth to engage in agriculture due to the aging age of the current farmer.
He also greeted Mayor Yoshito Arisaka of Minamimaki, Nagano, Japan who attended to further strengthen the relationship between their city and the Municipal Government of La Trinidad. Mayor Yoshito Arisaka expressed support and congratulations for the success of the event, emphasizing that coffee is a drink that connects people and communities.
In the message of Regional Executive Director Jennilyn M. The Department of Agriculture – Cordillera Administrative Region (DA-CAR), represented by OIC-Field Operations Division Chief Dr. Leisley Deligen, discussed the quality of Cordillera’s Arabica coffee, the need to boost local production to meet the rising demand, and the agency’s continued support to the Interventions and capacity-building services under High Value Crops Development Program (HVCDP) and other programs.
The trade fair is also underway featuring various coffee and cocoa products from local producers in La Trinidad. The Coffee Festival will last until February 21, 2026.**DA CAR