The province of Antique is banking on the development of its cacao industry as an additional boost to the agriculture sector.

In an interview with Vice Governor Edgar Denosta, he said that a provincial ordinance he sponsored, along with Board Members Fernando Corvera Sr. and Victor Rizardo Condez, was approved creating the Provincial Task Force for Cacao Inventory and Development.

“Gusto naton ma-inventory ang existing nga mga tanom nga cacao kag lantawon naton kun ano ka duro kag kinahanglanon naton kag maman-an kun sin-o ang gusto pa nga magtanom (We want to do an inventory on the existing cacao. We’ll determine our needs and those who are interested to plant),” Denosta said.

Denosta said that the data will be submitted to Gov. Rhodora Cadiao to appropriate necessary fund or establish program for its development.

He also underscored the potential partnership with the government agencies such as the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP), and the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA).

According to him, the LBP has initiated the Cacao 100 Financing Program which aims to assist the cacao industry stakeholders to help increase the production area.

“Kun gusto kang mga organizations, private individuals nga magtanom nga wara sanda ti capital, they can apply financial assistance with a very minimal interest (Should the organizations and private individuals wanted to plant cacao but have no capital money for it, they can apply financial assistance with a very minimal interest),” Denosta said.

To note, around six-hectare land in Barangay Bongbongan I in Sibalom town is being eyed as a pilot area for the cacao plantation and cultural heritage site with reverence to the historical remnants during the Japanese occupation.

“Kun ma-landscape dya, matanom ang cacao, pwede nga maging attraction man kadya kang tourist and jive with the tourist spots, if ever nga i-adopt kang probinsya through ordinance nga mangin cultural heritage (If a landscape has been done, and the cacao was planted, this can be a tourist attraction, and jive with the tourist spots, if ever the province will adopt it through an ordinance to be a cultural heritage),” Denosta said.LTP/LML-PIA6 Antique