Quezon City, Philippines – March 19, 2026 The Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) and SOCODEVI formalized a partnership through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to implement the Agsama Kape Project, which will benefit around 4,000 indigenous women coffee producers in the Cordillera and Nueva Vizcaya.
The partnership was signed by CDA Chairperson Usec. Alexander B. Raquepo and SOCODEVI Philippines Director of International Programs Mr. François Dionne. The partnership aims to revitalize the Philippine coffee industry by enhancing climate resilience and promoting economic empowerment, particularly among indigenous women producers.
Supported by Global Affairs Canada, the initiative will strengthen cooperative development through technical assistance, capacity building, and institutional support. It also underscores key priorities on gender equality, youth empowerment, and inclusive growth across the coffee value chain. By focusing on the Cordillera Administrative Region and Nueva Vizcaya, the project hopes to contribute to the country’s goal of achieving coffee self-sufficiency by 2030.
CDA officials described the MOU as a milestone partnership, reaffirming their commitment to empowering cooperatives and uplifting the livelihoods of indigenous communities through sustainable and inclusive development.
