Malagos, Davao City — One of the key objectives of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), through the UNDP/GEF Biodiversity Corridor Project – Eastern Mindanao Biodiversity Corridor (EMBC), is to support and enhance the potential of local Biodiversity-Friendly Enterprises (BDFEs) to prevent biodiversity loss and promote sustainable natural resource use. On July 13-17, 2026, in collaboration with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Provincial Office – Agusan del Norte the Training on Cacao Farming, Processing, and Management officially commenced.
Held at the renowned facility of Godel Chocolate in Malagos, Davao City, the hands-on training brought together six key representatives from two biodiversity-friendly enterprises: the Barangay Coleto Bislig Coconut Farmers Agriculture Cooperative (BACOCOFACO) and the Manhon Agriculture Cooperative (MACO). Both organizations are established producers of traditional tablea and other value-added cacao products in their respective localities in Caraga and are actively positioning themselves to venture into the art of chocolate making.
The training sessions were led by Mr. Louie D. Cena, mentor and operator behind Godel—a prominent tree-to-bar chocolate brand and production solutions provider. Mr. Cena shared that “Fifty percent (50%) of your chocolate quality depends on the quality of your beans. It is important that you know how to control your cacao beans.”
During the hands-on chocolate-making sessions, the participants received a comprehensive exposure to the entire production- from learning to calibrate the roasting machine to exact temperature curves, tasting freshly roasted cacao nibs, and operating specialized equipment through the grinding, refining, tempering, molding, and final packaging stages. A curated chocolate tasting session also provided a deeper sensory understanding of how physical processing directly shapes flavor and quality.
Highlighting the importance of this training, a representative from MACO emphasized, “Dako kaayo og tabang kini nga training nga gihatag kanamo. Unsaon man nato pag-maximize ug pagpaasdang sa atong produksyon gamit ang mga makinarya kung dili sakto ug dili luwas ang atong paggamit niini?” (This training is a massive help for us. What use would the processing machinery and equipment be if we do not know the correct, safe, and precise ways to operate them?)
This sentiment underscores a core principle of the BD Corridor Project’s BDFE implementation. Providing community organizations with post-harvest and processing facilities is only half the battle; pairing these physical assets with rigorous, expert-led technical training ensures that the technology is fully utilized, well-maintained, and transformed into a sustainable driver of local economic growth.
By investing in these resourced-based enterprises, the DENR, through the BD Corridor Project and its partners, are helping BACOCOFACO and MACO build resilient, high-value enterprises. These organizations are not just preparing to scale their BDFEs—they are proving that sustainable livelihood development can go hand-in-hand with conservation efforts within our biodiversity corridors.
This story is published under the DENR-UNDP/GEF Project “Integrated Approach in the Management of Major Biodiversity Corridors in the Philippines” or BD Corridor Project, which seeks to operationalize integrated management of biodiversity corridors to generate multiple benefits, including effective conservation of globally threatened species and high conservation value forests, reduce deforestation and degradation, and enhance local biodiversity-friendly livelihoods.
The project is implemented by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme and funded by the Global Environment Facility. 🍫🙌
