The Central Bicol State University of Agriculture (CBSUA), through the Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation (OVPRI), convened a multi-stakeholder meeting to discuss the development and future direction of the cacao industry in Camarines Sur on January 22, 2026, at the OVPRI.
Central to the discussion was the proposed 2026–2030 Camarines Sur Cacao Roadmap, which seeks to provide a strategic framework for strengthening cacao production, processing, research, and market development in the province. Plans for the 2026 Bicol Cacao Congress and Festival were likewise discussed as a platform to showcase local cacao, promote innovation, and strengthen stakeholder collaboration.
Research initiatives featured prominently in the agenda, particularly proposed studies on hybrid cacao and heirloom cacao varieties, underscoring the role of science, innovation, and academic institutions in improving productivity and preserving high-value genetic resources.
The meeting brought together representatives from government agencies, academe, industry councils, and the private sector. Present were Dr. Mae SA. Lustre, Director of the Research Services Division of CBSUA; Mr. Edgardo Navarroza, Regional Chairman of the Bicol Cacao Industry Council; and Mr. Jerry Guevara, Chairman of the Camarines Sur Cacao Council. Officials from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Camarines Sur, led by Provincial Director Mr. Jay Percival S. Ablan, and Mr. Jaime S. Paulo Jr., also attended.
Also participating were representatives from the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) Region V and Camarines Sur, the Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office V (DA RFO V), the academe and training sector, including BISCAST and ATI Bicol, and private sector stakeholders such as Verdant Agri Cooperative and Crave Cacao.
The meeting emphasized the importance of coordinated efforts among government agencies, research institutions, industry councils, and private enterprises to advance the cacao industry in Camarines Sur and the wider Bicol Region, with participants expressing commitment to sustained collaboration toward a competitive and sustainable cacao sector. | 𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘑𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘗𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘴, 𝘱𝘩𝘰𝘵𝘰𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘙𝘚𝘋
