Sagada coffee grower tops 2021 Phl coffee competition

A COFFEE GROWER from this tourist town was recognized by the Dept. of Trade and Industry- Mountain Province Office and the Provincial Government of Mountain Province for receiving two awards during the recently concluded 2021 Philippine Coffee Quality Competition, the country’s most prestigious annual search for the best Philippine-origin coffee. George A. Dapliyan, won the “Best coffee process for Arabica-washed” award.His sole entry also bested other coffee entries in the nation and secured the fifth place in the Arabica category.

By Erwin S. Batnag

SAGADA, Mountain Province -- A coffee grower from this tourist town was recognized by the Dept. of Trade and Industry- Mountain Province Office and the Provincial Government of Mountain Province for receiving two awards during the recently concluded 2021 Philippine Coffee Quality Competition, the country’s most prestigious annual search for the best Philippine-origin coffee.
    George A. Dapliyan, won the “Best coffee process for Arabica-washed” award.
    His sole entry also bested other coffee entries in the nation and secured the fifth place in the Arabica category.
    His entry represented the province during this year’s competition that gathered 103 official entries from the 12 regions of the Philippines. Entrants were required to submit coffee green beans which were graded, roasted and cupped accordingly by licensed Q-graders from Manila, Davao, Indonesia, Singapore and Taiwan.
    The winning coffee for this year’s competition was auctioned last June 26.
    Coffee green beans were sold at an average of 300-350 pesos per kilo. George’s winning coffee was sold at an astounding $ 20.60 per kilo, roughly around one thousand pesos per kilo.
    As part of the 34th Cordillera Month Celebration and the 26th Police Community Relations Month, Gov. Bonifacio C. Lacwasan, Jr. and DTI- Mountain Province OIC provincial director Mabel F. Banggawan handed a certificate of recognition to Dapliyan in recognition of his efforts in participating in this year’s competition.