The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Misamis Oriental officially launched a Shared Service Facility (SSF) for Cacao Processing Center for Eastern Misamis Oriental at the University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines (USTP) in Claveria, Misamis Oriental on September 19, 2025.
SSF is a flagship program of DTI that is designed to provide micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) with access to advanced machinery, equipment, and technical support under a shared system.
The established facility intends to support the sustained growth of cacao farmers and processors by meeting market demand, offering competitive advantage, strengthening backward linkages to farmers, and creating jobs, ultimately increasing income for everyone involved in the cacao value chain.
It specifically aims to establish the cacao processing facility to serve 1,133 cacao farmers and 21 entrepreneurs in Eastern Misamis Oriental, produce 664.8 kilos of cocoa butter and 812.6 kilos of cocoa powder every month to serve readily-available market demand locally, and to make cocoa butter and cocoa powder in an FDA-certified facility to ensure quality and standards are met.
With total project cost of P1,633,000.00, the Cacao Processing Center for Eastern Misamis Oriental is equipped with modern machinery including a stainless batch roaster, cooling bin/mixer machine, commercial cacao cracker/winnower, colloid mill grinder, spiral mixer, hydraulic cocoa butter extractor, multipurpose pulverizer grinder, stainless table, and a commercial two-door showcase chiller.
This is to ensure the efficient and high-quality production of cocoa butter and powder.
DTI Misamis Oriental OIC-Provincial Director Jesusa Abear expressed DTI’s strong support in the launching of the facility “in uplifting the cacao industry of Misamis Oriental and Region 10.”
“Through the SSF program, we provide access to technology not only to improve the quality of the cacao products but to also open more opportunities in the bigger market for our farmers to have better income.” OIC-PD Abear said.
with photos by DTI-10, DTI MisOr
