Koronadal City, Philippines | November 10, 2025 – A new set of officers and representatives from various municipalities of South Cotabato took their oath before Governor Reynaldo S. Tamayo, Jr., reaffirming their commitment to advance the cacao industry in the province.
The following are the Major Officers and City/Municipal Cacao Farmer Representatives of the Southern Valley Industry Development Council:
Governor Reynaldo S. Tamayo, Jr. emphasized the importance of supporting high-value crops in South Cotabato, particularly cacao.
“I have always believed in the great potential of cacao. I have full trust and confidence that cacao is one of the industries that can truly showcase the best of what our province has to offer — the quality of our local products.”
(Noon pa man ay naniniwala na ako na malaki ang potensyal ng cacao. At malaki ang aking tiwala at paniniwala na ang cacao ay isa sa mga tinitingnan natin na industriya na makapagpapakita ng ganda ng ating probinsiya — ang kalidad ng ating mga produkto.)
Governor Tamayo further underscored the role of local associations and councils in driving economic progress in South Cotabato.
“We envision that your products will gain more value-added opportunities. This is one of the reasons why the GDP of South Cotabato continues to improve — because of councils like yours that must be enhanced, and the investors who continue to believe in our province.”
(Ito ang tinitingnan natin na dapat magkaroon ng mas maraming value-added sa inyong produkto. Isa ito sa mga dahilan kung bakit patuloy na gumaganda ang GDP ng probinsiya ng South Cotabato — dahil sa mga council na gaya nito na dapat pang mapalakas, at sa mga investor na patuloy na nagtitiwala sa ating lalawigan.)
Through this initiative and collective effort, the Southern Valley Cacao Industry Development Council serves as a collaborative platform uniting stakeholders across the entire value chain—from farmers and processors to entrepreneurs and cooperatives.
Working closely with government agencies and private sector partners, the SVCAIDC aims to address industry challenges, promote sustainable farming practices, and encourage innovation and inclusivity. Its mission is to transform South Cotabato’s cacao industry into a globally competitive, community-driven sector that showcases the province’s potential to produce world-class cacao.
