Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. is championing the Bicol region as a major force in the country’s cacao industry, aiming to boost national output while positioning the region as a reliable source of premium beans and specialty chocolate.
Speaking at the first Bicol Cacao Congress and the fourth Cacao Festival, Tiu Laurel highlighted Bicol’s unique climate and soil conditions, which make it ideal for cacao cultivation. He praised the region’s progress, noting growing recognition of its high-quality beans—especially with Alea Chocolates being named the region’s Key Cacao Processor by the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Trade and Industry.
Central to the government’s cacao push is the ongoing update of the Cacao Industry Roadmap. This strategy focuses on increasing production, developing processing facilities, and expanding markets while promoting sustainable and ethical sourcing practices.
The roadmap also encourages greater private sector investment to solidify the Philippines’ position as a global supplier of quality cacao.
Secretary Tiu Laurel outlined a vision of cacao as a driver of rural employment, farmer income, and sustainable investment. He envisions the rise of a globally recognized “Bicol Cacao” brand—one rooted in quality, climate-smart practices, and community empowerment.
Last year, cacao contributed PHP1.78 billion to the crop sector’s PHP436.9 billion total production value based on current prices. This represented a 49 percent increase from 2023, a year when the broader crop sector grew by 19 percent. The surge in cacao’s value reflects rising demand and improved farmgate prices, further underscoring its growing economic potential.
The global market context adds urgency and opportunity. This year, the cocoa bean market is valued at approximately USD14 billion and is projected to grow to USD17 billion by 2030.
Supply disruptions caused by climate change and new European regulations banning beans from deforested land have led to soaring prices of cocoa—the fermented version of cacao and main ingredient to making chocolate—peaking at over USD12,000 per ton last year from just USD3,200 two years earlier. The bulk of supply comes African countries Ivory Coast, Ghana, Nigeria and Cameroon.
These shifts, the DA secretary said, open the door for naturally grown, climate-resilient cacao from the Philippines to gain ground.
“Our targets are bold: higher yields, better incomes, and a stronger global footprint,” said Secretary Tiu Laure. “But at the core is something deeper—empowering our farmers and inspiring the next generation to see cacao not just as tradition, but as a thriving, future-ready enterprise.”
He said the DA’s backing of the cacao sector carries out the vision of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for continued support to the High Value Crops Development Program by ramping up access to planting materials, rejuvenating old farms, and investing in fermentation and drying facilities to boost quality and farmer incomes.
“Let’s make Bicol a sweet spot on the global cacao map—literally and economically,” he said.
