By Rachel Magday
NUEVA VIZCAYA, Philippines — Nueva Vizcaya strengthened its position in the country’s growing coffee industry after a local farmers’ cooperative and a homegrown brewing team won major awards in separate competitions.
Gov. Jose V. Gambito led provincial officials in honoring the award-winning coffee producers and brewers during Monday’s flag-raising ceremony, recognizing their role in improving the quality and national profile of locally produced coffee.
“These victories prove that Nueva Vizcaya has the talent, climate and communities needed to build a competitive coffee industry,” Gambito said. “The provincial government remains committed to supporting our growers, processors and brewers through training, market development and other programs that will help transform coffee into a sustainable source of income for our people.”
The Tiblac Farmers Agriculture Cooperative, in Ambaguio represented by Joan Dulagan, won the Robusta category of the second North Luzon Coffee Quality Competition held in May in Baguio City.
Organized by the Philippine Rural Development Project-North Luzon and the Department of Trade and Industry, the competition aimed to promote and improve the quality and market competitiveness of Northern Luzon coffee. It drew 65 entries, including six from Nueva Vizcaya.
Tiblac’s Robusta scored 85.06 and earned a premium-grade rating for its rich flavor, aroma and smooth quality. Other Nueva Vizcaya entries also received premium-grade ratings.
Nueva Vizcaya brewers likewise distinguished themselves during the Philippine Coffee Brewer League 2026–Nueva Vizcaya Leg, spearheaded by the Department of Trade and Industry and held on June 28 at Saint Mary’s University.
The competition drew 16 teams from Nueva Vizcaya, Benguet, Isabela, Nueva Ecija, Tuguegarao, Zambales and Manila—the largest turnout in the league’s round-robin history.
Nueva Vizcaya-based Loot & Brew of Felisa’s Grind and Brew emerged as champion. The team is composed of Mc Osmund Espejo, Justine San Juan and Christopher San Juan.
