Bayani Philippines (2025)

04/11/2025

DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/4 November) – Poverty is forcing some parents of minors to exploit their children through online sexual trafficking, an official of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-Davao said.

In an interview at the sidelines of the Kapehan sa Dabaw on Monday, November 3, Fretzie Ann Ellyn Pallado, focal person for the Recovery and Reintegration Program of Trafficked Persons (RRPTP) of DSWD-Davao, expressed alarm that perpetrators of online sexual trafficking are no longer just distant relatives but now include parents of the survivor victims.

Fretzie Ann Ellyn Pallado, focal person for the Recovery and Reintegration Program of Trafficked Persons (RRPTP) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development-Davao, discusses the exploitation of children through online sexual trafficking in Davao Region. (MindaNews photo by Antonio L. Colina IV)

“In OSAEC cases, the primary reason family members become involved is poverty—the lack of livelihood pushes them to engage in such acts.It’s really alarming because, in previous years, the usual perpetrators were often relatives. But now, even immediate family members themselves, such as the mother and father, are involved. They facilitate the production of CSAE materials – pornographic materials or videos,” she said in Cebuano.

She said parents exploit their children by producing child sexual abuse or exploitation materials (CSAEM/CSAM), in the process exposing them on camera in exchange for money from foreign clients, many of them Australians.

Based on data released by DSWD-Davao, the agency rescued 77 minors in 2023, 75 in 2024, and 43 as of October 2025.

The youngest victim was just 4 years old.

Pallado said the DSWD-Davao has provided them support through RRPTP, which is a comprehensive program that ensures adequate recovery and reintegration services, including psychosocial, social, and economic, for trafficked victims.

She said the government also provides educational assistance for victims.

Republic Act 11930, also known as the Anti-Online Sexual Abuse or Exploitation of Children (OSAEC) and Anti-Child Sexual Abuse or Exploitation Materials (CSAEM) Act, criminalizes, among others, the hiring of a child to perform in whatever way in the production and creation of OSAEC and CSAEM. The law also prohibits the offering, selling, or distributing of these materials.

The law defines CSAEM/CSAM as materials, like visual, video, audio, written, or any combination of these, of “a child engaged or involved in real or simulated sexual activities, or depicting acts of sexual abuse or exploitation of a child as a sexual object.”

Materials that focus on the genitalia or other private body parts of a child are also considered CSAEM/CSAM.

Pallado emphasized the need to strengthen awareness among minors in communities on OSAEC, noting that some children are unaware that they are already being abused.

“We continue to strengthen our efforts, especially in schools and among students, since most of the victim-survivors are students. That’s why we focus on educating them about what constitutes prostitution, what OSAEC is, and the risks they face if they engage in such activities,” she said.

She added that family members need to be educated about the various forms of abuse, emphasizing that many are not fully aware that abuses prohibited under the law may come in other forms, not only sexual contact with victims.

“They’re not very aware that what happened already constitutes an abuse. That’s usually what they claim—that there’s no physical contact with the child, or it’s more of showing the naked body, without knowing that it’s already considered CSAEM,” she said.

She said these are then sold to pornographic websites.

She said social workers conduct psychosocial sessions for rescued victims and continue to monitor those reintegrated into communities to ensure that they are not victimized again. (Antonino L. Colina IV/MindaNews)

DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/4 November) – Poverty is forcing some parents of minors to exploit their children through online sexual trafficking, a...

04/11/2025

SAN FRANCISCO, Agusan del Sur (MindaNews/4 November) — Power has been restored in Surigao City as of 8:30 AM Tuesday following an overnight outage caused by the onslaught of Typhoon Tino.

According to the Public Information Office of the city government, telecommunications services were also restored following the return of electricity.

Personnel of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office in Surigao City are shown clearing a road of fallen trees in this photo courtesy of Surigao City PIO.

The local government reported that the heavy rain and strong winds had subsided but urged residents to remain vigilant, as Surigao City, along with northern towns of Surigao del Norte and the province of Camiguin, remains under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1.

The typhoon toppled trees along several streets, damaging portions of the city’s power distribution lines.

More than 2,000 families were forced to seek temporary shelter in evacuation centers to avoid flooding, storm surges, and landslides in their communities.

Meanwhile, Primewater Surigao Metro announced on its page that as of 7:30 AM on November 4, the city’s water supply system was 52 percent operational.

“We hope everyone remained safe after the typhoon. Our team continues to assess and restore affected facilities to fully normalize water service as soon as possible,” Primewater said in its statement.

“We apologize for the inconvenience. Further updates will be issued as restoration efforts continue,” it added.

Meanwhile, classes in all levels was suspended in Iligan City Tuesday, November 4, after the city government issued an executive order Monday in anticipation of the typhoon. The suspension order, however, did not cover work in government offices.

In Linamon town, Mayor Procopio V. Chang also issued a public advisory November 3 for the suspension of classes on November 4 both public and private schools for the safety of school children and teachers. (Chris V. Panganiban with reports from Richel Umel/MindaNews)

SAN FRANCISCO, Agusan del Sur (MindaNews/4 November) — Power has been restored in Surigao City as of 8:30 AM Tuesday following an overnight ...

04/11/2025

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (MindaNews / 4 November) – The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBPC) has named six new martyrs from Mindanao who were prosecuted for their faith.

CBCP News, the media arm of the CBCP, reported Monday, November 3, that the list was submitted to the Vatican’s Commission on New Martyrs – Witnesses of the Faith for the Jubilee Year 2025.

“These individuals shed their blood between the year 2000 and the present because of violent opposition to the good brought by the Gospel,” CBCP News quoted Msgr. Bernardo Pantin, CBCP secretary general, as saying.

The list included Fr. Rhoel Gallardo, a Claretian missionary abducted by Abu Sayyaf bandits in Basilan province in 2000. He was tortured for his faith and killed after 44 days in captivity.

Marawi Bishop Edwin dela Peña (leftmost) leads in offering candles to bombing victims at the Dimaporo Gymnasium inside the Mindanao State University campus in Marawi City in this photo taken on December 11, 2023. MindaNews photo by BOBBY TIMONERA

Four others — Junrey Barbante, Janine Arenas, Evangeline Aromin, and Riza Daniel — died in a bombing inside the Mindanao State University campus in Marawi City on December 3, 2023.

The explosion occurred during a Sunday Mass inside the university gymnasium and was carried out by extremists linked to the Islamic State group who targeted Catholics in the predominantly Muslim city.

The sixth on the list is Alberto Pinagawa of Cagayan de Oro City, a lay leader and Eucharistic minister who was slain on December 24, 2009 for opposing illegal logging and mining operations in Mindanao.

Pinagawa, a defender of Lumad ancestral lands, had received multiple threats before his murder for protecting forests and indigenous communities from exploitation.

The list of new Christian martyrs also included a priest slain in Nueva Ecija, Fr. Marcelito “Tito” Paez. He was fatally shot on December 4, 2017 after helping secure the release of a political prisoner from the provincial jail.

Paez was known for his lifelong advocacy for human rights, social justice, and the welfare of the poor and marginalized farmers in his diocese.

In 2023, Pope Francis created a special commission to study the modern-day killings of Christians and identify those he calls “new martyrs” of the 21st century.

The pope entrusted the mission to the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints’ Commission on New Martyrs – Witnesses of the Faith, tasked with compiling a global catalogue of Christian witnesses.

The commission aims to honor those who have shed their blood for Christ and to highlight the continuing reality of martyrdom in today’s world.

In 2024, Pope Francis also urged dioceses worldwide to commemorate their own saints, blesseds, and candidates for beatification every Nov. 9.

He said even those he calls the “saints next door” — recognized for their heroic Christian witness and holiness of life — should be included in the celebration.

The initiative seeks to help Catholics rediscover and preserve the memory of faithful disciples whose lives continue to inspire holiness and hope in their local churches. (B**g S. Sarmiento / MindaNews)

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (MindaNews / 4 November) – The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBPC) has named six new martyrs from Min...

03/11/2025

DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 03 November) – Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal 4 has been hoisted across areas in Mindanao that were hardest hit by super typhoon Odette (Rai) in December 2021 — Dinagat Islands, Siargao and Bucas Grande Islands – as severe tropical storm ‘Tino’ (Kalmaegi) intensified into a typhoon, according to Tropical Cyclone Bulletin 7 issued at 2 p.m. by the state weather bureau.

These were the same areas placed under Storm Signal 4 on December 16, 2021, just before ‘Odette’ made landfall in Siargao Island, Surigao del Norte at 1:30 p.m. and at 3:10 p.m. in Cagdianao, Dinagat Islands. ‘Odette’ would make seven more landfalls – six in the Visayas and one in Palawan.

Satellite image courtesy of Pagasa-DOST

The 2 p.m. bulletin said ‘Tino’ is expected to move generally westward for the next 24 hours and may make its initial landfall over the vicinity of the southern portion of Eastern Samar, Leyte, Southern Leyte, or Dinagat Islands Monday night or early Tuesday morning, the bulletin issued at 2 p.m. by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said.

After the landfall, ‘Tino’ is expected to traverse Visayas and northern Palawan before emerging over the West Philippine Sea on Wednesday afternoon and may exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility by Thursday morning.

PAGASA said the center of Typhoon ‘Tino’ as of the 2 p.m. bulletin was estimated at 235 km east southeast of Guiuan, Eastern Samar, moving westward at 25 km/h and packing maximum sustained winds of 120 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 150 km/h.

It warned of “heavy rainfall, severe winds, and storm surge” in localities outside the landfall point and the forecast confidence cone.

It said ‘Tino’ is forecast make its initial landfall at or near peak intensity — currently forecasted around 150-165 km/h maximum winds with higher gustiness –and rapid intensification within the next 24 hours is likely.

In its 11 a.m. bulletin, PAGASA said “the possibility of reaching super typhoon category is not ruled out based on alternate scenarios and climatological data.”

This was taken out in the 2 p.m. bulletin.

In the 11 a.m. advisory, the areas now under Signal 4 were still under Signal 3.

Typhoon signals

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal 4 has been hoisted over Dinagat Islands and Siargao and Bucas Grande Islands while the rest of Surigao del Norte has been placed under Signal 3.

PAGASA raised Signal 2 over the northern portion of Surigao del Sur (Carrascal, Cantilan, Madrid, Carmen, Lanuza, Cortes, Tago, San Miguel, Marihatag, Cagwait, Bayabas, City of Tandag), the northern portion of Agusan del Sur (Sibagat), the northern portion of Agusan del Norte (Kitcharao, Jabonga, Santiago, Tubay, City of Cabadbaran, Remedios T. Romualdez, Magallanes), and Camiguin.

The rest of Surigao del Sur, the central portion of Agusan del Sur (Bayugan City, Prosperidad, Esperanza, San Luis, Talacogon, San Francisco, Rosario), the rest of Agusan del Norte, Misamis Oriental, and the northern portion of Bukidnon (Baungon, Malitbog, Impasug-Ong, Libona, Manolo Fortich, Sumilao), the

northern portion of Misamis Occidental (Baliangao, Plaridel, Sapang Dalaga, Calamba, Lopez Jaena, Concepcion, Oroquieta City, Aloran), and the northern portion of Zamboanga del Norte (Sibutad, Rizal, Dipolog City, Manukan, Pres. Manuel A. Roxas, Katipunan, Polanco, Dapitan City, Piñan, La Libertad, Mutia, Jose Dalman) have been placed under Signal 1.

‘Odette’ death toll

Super tyhooon ‘Odette’ claimed 406 lives in the seven regions affected in the country, three of them in Mindanao – Regions 9, 10 and Caraga. Eighty persons died in these three regions – 71 in Caraga region, eight in Region 10 and one in Region 9, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council’s last Situational Report on ‘Odette’ on January 21, 2022.

Of 1,265 injured in the seven regions, 530 were from Mindanao – 508 in Caraga, 20 in Region 10 and two in Region 9. Five of 65 reported missing in the seven regions, were from Caraga.

Of 233 roads destroyed by ‘Odette,’ 48 were from Mindanao – 27 in Region 10 and 21 in Caraga.

A total of 1,375,007 houses were destroyed in 10 regions. 171,675 were in Mindanao: 164,142 in Caraga; 7,226 in Region 10; 239 in Region 9; 73 in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao; two in Region 11 and one in Region 12.

Meanwhile, Surigao del Sur Governor Johnny T. Pimentel has assured residents that the provincial government is actively coordinating with LGUs and response agencies to ensure preparedness. He directed all provincial and national offices to maintain 24-hour emergency monitoring and to implement preemptive evacuation if necessary.

Several local governments in Surigao del Sur—including City of Tandag City , Municipalities of Tago, Bayabas, Lanuza, Lianga, Marihatag, San Agustin, Hinatuan, Cagwait, Carrascal, Cantilan, Carmen, Lanuza, and Cortes—have suspended classes and work until further notice and enforced no-sail and no-swimming policies as precautionary measures.

Residents are urged to stay indoors, remain vigilant, and follow official advisories as emergency teams continue readiness operations to safeguard lives and property throughout Surigao del Sur. (Carolyn O. Arguillas with reports from Queenie Casio / MindaNews)

DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 03 November) – Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal 4 has been hoisted across areas in Mindanao that were hardest hit by sup...

03/11/2025

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (MindaNews / 03 November) – Maitum, Sarangani province’s western-most coastal town, has bared plans to build a modern municipal center with an eco-inspired architecture, including a rooftop lined with gardens and solar panels.

Maitum Mayor James Mark Reganit said the multi-purpose government building will mark “a new era of governance and sustainability” for Maitum, a town known for its archeological importance with the discovery in 1991 of unique 2,000-year old anthropomorphic jars, a find considered unparalleled throughout Southeast Asia.

The architectural perspective of the proposed Maitum municipal hall. Image from Maitum LGU page

He revealed the architectural and engineering design of the new municipal complex is being finalized after it had been presented to town officials.

In a statement posted on Facebook, Reganit noted the proposed new municipal hall represents more than just a building, “it is a symbol of the town’s growing vision for progress, people-centered service, and harmony with nature.”

“It is rooted in Maitum’s spirit of unity, culture and sustainability,” he said.

Presented by Architects GM Villaruel and Freddie Reye Doctor and Engr. Dan Carlo Delima, the design showcases a bold vision for a modern, eco-inspired, and culturally-rooted government center.

The future municipal hall will rise on a 61,129-square-meter site, larger than the site complex area of SM Mall of General Santos City.

With a total gross floor area of 18,656.90 square meters, the new local government center will rise in Purok Rag-o, Barangay Malalag.

The major building, shaped like the letter “M” for Maitum, will bring together the executive and legislative offices, a one-stop business service hub, and a convention center under one roof.

At the heart of the concept is “Eco-Imperium,” a fusion of ecology and imperium (Latin for authority) – symbolizing ecological civic power.

The design blends the dignity of classical architecture with the living beauty of nature, reflecting Maitum’s identity as a community rich in culture and biodiversity, the local government said.

The roof deck will be lined with gardens and solar panels while inside, open spaces, natural lighting, and green features are designed to inspire productivity and harmony between people and environment, it added.

Convention halls are also planned to accommodate up to a thousand participants, making it a future hub for community gatherings, conferences, and events.

Maitum, some 130 kilometers west of General Santos City, is also popular for its white water river tubing and marinated fresh flying fish, called bangsi.

It annually holds the Bangsi Festival as tribute to the fish variety that provides livelihood to fishermen and women fish processors. (B**g S. Sarmiento / MindaNews)

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (MindaNews / 03 November) – Maitum, Sarangani province’s western-most coastal town, has bared plans to build a modern mu...

03/11/2025

SAN FRANCISCO, Agusan del Sur (MindaNews/3 November) — Local governments in Siargao are taking proactive steps to strengthen disaster preparedness as Severe Tropical Storm Tino (international name Kalmaegi) advances toward the Caraga Region, prompting the activation of response teams, preemptive evacuation advisories, and heightened coastal monitoring.

The Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC)–Caraga, according to a report by the Philippine Information Agency, convened a series of emergency meetings over the weekend to coordinate contingency plans with local councils in Surigao del Norte and the Province of Dinagat Islands. The regional advisory directed all local disaster offices to activate emergency operations centers, preposition rescue assets, and ensure the readiness of evacuation sites in low-lying and landslide-prone areas.

Satellite image courtesy of Pagasa-DOST

In General Luna, the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) issued an early evacuation advisory across its 19 barangays, reminding residents to identify the nearest evacuation centers and prepare essential supplies. The advisory urged families in flood-prone coastal zones to evacuate early and not wait for weather conditions to deteriorate.

MDRRMC, in the advisory posted on its social media page, likewise encouraged local lodging houses, resorts, and private establishments to voluntarily open their facilities to evacuees who may need temporary shelter.

General Luna resident Alexa Ray Paroz has offered help to those who would likely be seeking refuge when Typhoon Tino batters the island.

“Hello, if anyone needs food or any assistance, please come to our house. Evryone is welcome. We’ll get through this together,” Paroz said her page.

“We can keep our community safe through kindness and readiness,” the advisory stated, emphasizing community cooperation and vigilance in the face of the approaching storm.

Municipal officials and barangay captains have also been conducting house-to-house warnings and information drives to ensure that residents are aware of evacuation protocols.

Coordination lines with the Philippine Coast Guard and Bureau of Fire Protection remain open for emergency rescue operations should the storm intensify.

Meanwhile, in neighboring Del Carmen, disaster preparedness has become part of local governance since the devastation brought by Super Typhoon Odette in 2021.

The town’s “Climate-Resilient Siargao” program, launched shortly after Odette, focuses on community-based readiness and the empowerment of barangay-level responders.

In November last year, the local government conducted a typhoon simulation drill in the island barangays of Caub, Halian, and San Fernando, testing coordination among the Municipal DRRMO, health units, and the Coast Guard. The drill aimed to assess real-time evacuation procedures, communication systems, and early warning mechanisms.

The Del Carmen MDRRMO maintains an updated list of evacuation centers and emergency hotlines for its 20 barangays, which it posted on its official social media page over the weekend.

Across Siargao and Dinagat Islands, disaster officials stress that preparedness measures — from preemptive evacuations to mangrove rehabilitation and typhoon-resilient housing — are vital to minimizing risks as Tino brings potential heavy rains and strong winds.

Classes in all levels have been suspended in Surigao del Norte , Agusan del Norte and Misamis Oriental.

In Cagayan de Oro, Mayor Rolando Uy has suspended all face-to-face classes in all levels starting Monday afternoon.

Following the Executive Order from the Office of the City Mayor, Xavier University-Ateneo de Cagayan announced it is suspending all face-to-face classes at all levels, including classes at its graduate schools, effective 1:30 PM Monday. An advisory from the university said it is shifting all classes to asynchronous mode.

All classes and work at the university have also been suspended for Tuesday, November 4, the university announced.

The Cagayan de Oro Water District, the city’s primary supplier of tap water, has also issued an advisory Monday, November 3, telling residents to store at least a gallon of water per person per day for three days.

The COWD said it has made emergency and recovery measures in place to protect its water pumping facilities from the storm but said their preparations may not be enough if the situation turns for the worst.

The Philippine Coast Guard station in Cagayan de Oro also suspended sea travel for all types of vessels from the port of Cagayan de Oro to Cebu, Bohol and all areas affected by the typhoon.

Also affected by the Coast Guard order is the ferry service between Balingoan, Misamis Oriental and Camiguin Island. (Chris Panganiban and Froilan Gallardo/Mindanews)

SAN FRANCISCO, Agusan del Sur (MindaNews/3 November) — Local governments in Siargao are taking proactive steps to strengthen disaster prepar...

02/11/2025

SAN FRANCISCO, Agusan del Sur (MindaNews / 02 November) – Officials and residents of the Caraga region, particularly in Dinagat Islands province and Surigao del Norte are busy preparing for ‘Tino’ which has intensified into a severe tropical storm as of the 5 p.m. advisory on Sunday of the state weather bureau, and is expected to make “initial landfall over Eastern Samar or Dinagat Islands” late Monday evening (November 3) or early Tuesday morning (November 4).

Tropical Cyclone Signal 1 has been hoisted over Dinagat Islands and Surigao del Norte in Mindanao and in Eastern Samar, Northern Samar, Samar, Biliran, Leyte, Southern Leyte, and Camotes Islands, according to Tropical Cyclone Bulletin 2 of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA). It said the possibility of ‘Tino’ reaching a super typhoon category is “not ruled out based on alternate scenarios and climatological data.”

From its landfall over Eastern Samar or Dinagat, ‘Tino’ is expected to traverse Visayas and northern Palawan before emerging over the West Philippine Sea on Wednesday, November 5 morning or afternoon.

Courtesy of PAGASA

Dinagat Islands Governor Nilo Demerey, Jr. stressed the need to prepare for the storm. He told residents in a video message that according to projections, Tino will pack winds of 120 kph and “murag maigo kita” (we will likely be hit).

He said ‘Tino’s’ strength is similar to Typhoon Odette’s (Rai) in December 2021 and its trajectory is similar to the path taken by Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) in November 2012.

As of the 5 p.m. bulletin, ‘Tino’ was estimated at 805 km East of Eastern Visayas, moving westward at 30 kilometers per hour, with maximum sustained winds of 95 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 115 km/h.

PAGASA said ‘Tino’ is forecast to continuously intensify and may reach typhoon category within the next 24 hours. “Furthermore, it will likely make its initial landfall at or near peak intensity (currently forecasted around 150-165 km/h maximum winds with higher gustiness).”

It also noted that “rapid intensification” within the next 48 hours is likely d that the possibility of reaching super typhoon category is “not ruled out based on alternate scenarios and climatological data.”

It also said that while the passage over country will trigger a slight weakening, ‘Tino’ is expected to remain as a typhoon throughout its passage over the country.

In Surigao del Norte, Governor Robert Lyndon Barbers said they are “on heightened monitoring” and that the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council met Sunday.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) Caraga issued a travel advisory urging tourists to avoid island-hopping and water activities beginning Monday. Tourists were advised to stay updated via advisories from the DOT and Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

In General Luna, Surigao del Norte, the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (MDRRMC) convened an emergency meeting Saturday afternoon, presided over by Vice Mayor Romina Rusillon Sajulga, to finalize contingency plans and activate the Incident Command System (ICS).

The LGU is now coordinating with barangays, civil society groups, and government agencies to ensure community preparedness and safety for residents, workers, and tourists.

This development was posted Sunday morning on LGU General Luna page.

The Philippine Coast Guard Station Surigao del Norte (PCG-SDN) has temporarily suspended all sea travel in the province and surrounding island routes, including to Siargao Island.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has likewise placed all its field offices on full alert, with 558,098 family food packs (FFPs) prepositioned in warehouses nationwide—including 81,989 packs in the Caraga Region—under the “Buong Bansa Handa (BBH)” program.

In its 5 p.m. bulletin, PAGASA said the highest wind signal that will likely be hoisted throughout ‘Tino’s’ passage is Wind Signal No. 4. (Chris V. Panganiban with reports / MindaNews)

SAN FRANCISCO, Agusan del Sur (MindaNews / 02 November) – Officials and residents of the Caraga region, particularly in Dinagat Islands prov...

02/11/2025

TACURONG CITY (MindaNews / 02 November) – Nestle Philippines, Inc. has assured continued market support for coffee produced in Mindanao, which provides the bulk of domestic coffee beans processed by the multinational food and beverage manufacturer.

Mauricio Alarcon, Nestle Philippines chair and CEO, said the company is not just looking at Sultan Kudarat, the country’s top coffee producer, as its major supplier in Mindanao.

“I don’t want to limit this to Sultan Kudarat…In terms of our commitment to Mindanao, it is a complete commitment,” he said, citing its existing manufacturing plant in Cagayan de Oro City, agricultural training support, and the buying stations the company set up in parts of the island.

Apart from providing the market for coffee farmers, Alarcon noted that Nestle wants to help develop a circular economy not just in Mindanao but the Philippines as a whole, referring to other industries benefiting from their operations such as the suppliers of machineries, warehousing, packaging and transport.

Mauricio Alarcon, Nestle Philippines chair and Chief Executive Officer, addresses coffee farmers during the culmination of Project Coffee++ on Thursday, 30 October 2025, in Tacurong City, Sultan Kudarat. Photo courtesy of PIA Region 12

Alarcon and other Nestle Philippine executives came to this city last Thursday, October 30, for the culmination of Project Coffee++, a capacity-building initiative jointly conducted with the German International Agency for Cooperation (GIZ).

Hundreds of coffee farmers from Sultan Kudarat and Bukidnon provinces graced the occasion.

Under Project Coffee++, Nestle Philippines serves as the buyer. It was piloted as Project Coffee+ in 2018. Some 3,000 coffee farmers from the two provinces benefited from the coffee project.

“We’re extremely proud of what we’re doing. Because all of this is not only to develop the coffee market, but to be able to buy Filipino coffee,” Alarcon said.

He said Nestle purchased 9,000 tons of local coffee this season, with 80 percent supplied by Sultan Kudarat.

Jose Uy, Nestle Philippines corporate affairs head, said they envision opening new buying stations in other parts of Mindanao provided there is sufficient coffee supply.

“Production is the key,” he said during the press conference.

Currently, Nestle operates buying stations in its manufacturing plant in Cagayan de Oro, in Tacurong City, Sultan Kudarat and Valencia City in Bukidnon, Uy said.

He said Nestle currently buys coffee beans at P275 per kilo.

A farmer harvests coffee cherries at Sitio Balutakay, Barangay Managa in Bansalan, Davao del Sur on Monday, 30 September 2024. MindaNews photo

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, seven of the Top 10 coffee-producing provinces in the country are in Mindanao.

Based on data released in September last year, Sultan Kudarat was the top coffee producer in the country with a volume of 21,442 metric tons (MT), followed by Bukidnon with 9,042 MT, Cavite with 8,190 MT, Davao del Sur with 7,713 MT and Iloilo with 5,736 MT.

Davao de Oro’s coffee production was at 4,346 MT, Maguindanao with 4,269 MT, Batangas with 3,658 MT, Sulu with 3,563 MT, and Basilan with 3,222 MT. (B**g S. Sarmiento / MindaNews)

TACURONG CITY (MindaNews / 02 November) – Nestle Philippines, Inc. has assured continued market support for coffee produced in Mindanao, whi...

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