Manila: Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson is pushing a national roadmap to transform the Philippines into a globally competitive coffee producer and net exporter by 2035. Lacson renewed his call on Friday for the passage of Senate Bill No. 1556, or the 'Philippine National Coffee Industry Development Act of 2025,' which seeks to establish a comprehensive coffee industry development framework and create a Philippine Coffee Board.

According to Philippines News Agency, the measure aims to improve the livelihood of small coffee farmers, who operate about 95 percent of farms under 5 hectares, preserve and enhance local varieties such as Barako, Robusta, Arabica, and Excelsa, promote climate-resilient production, and develop value-added processing capabilities. Lacson emphasized that parts of the Visayas and Mindanao could be developed into viable plantation areas.

Lacson noted that some regions in Visayas and Mindanao may be suitable as coffee plantation areas, and stressed the need for the Department of Agriculture (DA) to be empowered and supported through legislation. He highlighted that Vietnam is currently the second largest producer and exporter of coffee in the world, next to Brazil.

He pointed out that coffee remains a staple in Filipino households, highlighting the need to meet domestic demand while pursuing export opportunities. Lacson expressed a vision for the coffee industry not only for local consumption but also to establish the Philippines as an exporter, which is the driving force behind filing Senate Bill 1556.

The push for a structured national program comes as global coffee producers continue expanding their presence in international markets, underscoring the need for the Philippines to strengthen its own competitiveness.