Visayas cacao production needs boost

CHR, Cebu City barangays meet

CEBU CITY – The leaders of barangays in Cebu City have agreed to stop posting “drug-free” signs in their communities and follow the guidelines of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR).

The CHR office for Central Visayas met with the Association of Barangay Council (ABC) Cebu City, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Philippine National Police (PNP) and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency to discuss how the barangays implement the anti-drug campaign.

Last week, Barangay Ermita in Cebu City started posting “drug free” posters in houses whose residents have been cleared of involvement in drug dealing. The practice was abruptly stopped after the CHR said it was unconstitutional.

Also attending the meeting was Barangay Captain Ahong Chan of Pajo, Lapu Lapu City, who launched a shame campaign by labelling houses as drug dens. Chan also promised to stop the activity.

ILOILO CITY—The Visayas has to boost its annual production of cacao, the raw material for chocolate-based products.

Valente Turtur, chairman of Philippine Cacao Industry Council, said the Visayas can contribute in reaching the country’s cacao demand of 50,000 metric tons annually, with supply only 12,000 MT.

“The Visayas can be a next big producer if farmers plant more cacao,” Valente told The Manila Bulletin during the 2017 Cacao Link Visayas conference in Iloilo.

Western, Central and Eastern Visayas only have 2,000 hectares of farmland dedicated to cacao planting. Turtur said this is small in comparison to Davao region, which has 30,000 hectares.

Visayas-based farmers must link up with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Department of Agriculture (DA) to learn how to grow cacao.