Albay 3rd District Rep. Raymond Adrian Salceda is pushing to develop Bicol's cacao as a premium regional brand with strong export potential, while welcoming support for his proposed measure seeking to declare cacao development a priority program for the region.

In a statement, Salceda expressed gratitude for the strong backing from the Bicol Cacao Industry Council and the Philippine Cacao Industry Association–Bicol Chapter for House Bill 4219. He emphasized the importance of stakeholder involvement in shaping the future of regional cacao development.

House Bill 4219 establishes the Bicol Cacao Development Program Office under the regional Department of Agriculture. The proposed office will serve as a focal point for coordinating production, research, processing, and market development initiatives. Salceda noted that the measure aims to help local farmers and enterprises capture greater value across the entire supply chain, from farming to chocolate manufacturing.

The BCIC and PCIA-Bicol voiced support for the bill while proposing amendments to institutionalize public-private governance. Their recommendations include forming a Bicol Cacao Development Governing Board and ensuring formal representation for farmers and industry processors. As chair of the House Special Committee on Food Security, Salceda underscored that strengthening this industry will boost farmers' incomes and enhance regional agricultural resilience.

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