By Danny Estacio
SARIAYA, Quezon- House deputy speaker and Quezon Second district Representative David C. Suarez said here that he is focusing his next term in 2025-2028 on the development of Coffee Belt Road in Mt. Banahaw that will connect Sariaya-Candelaria -Dolores.
Suarez, unopposed for district representative in 2025 national and local elections said the coffee belt road infrastructure project aimed to revitalize the local coffee industry in his district comprising Lucena City, towns of Sariaya, Candelaria, Tiaong, Dolores, Candelaria, and San Antonio.
The said road is a 15-kilometer stretch within Mt. Banahaw, lies the coffee-producing villages, though Suarez said that some portion of the lot is covered by a protected area, and he is working to coordinate with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) for the appropriate and necessary permits as required under the law.
Suarez is teaming up with the Alona party-list Rep. Anna V. Suarez seeking a better livelihood program for coffee farmers with the assistance of the Department of Agriculture, and the Alona Parytlist established a coffee processing center in Brgy. Masalukot IV, Candelaria town
Coffee beans from the said towns were transported to Batangas, Suarez said.
“We have TUPAD, (Tulong Pangkabuhayan/Displaced workers)AKAP (Ayuda sa Kapos Ang Kita Progam), and AICS (Aid to Individuals in Crisis Situation, but also we need a sustainable livelihood program to sustain their daily needs”, Suarez said.
He added that he started talking with the DA in assisting the establishment of farmers cooperatives, and he urged village chairmen and officials to start organizing the farmers into cooperatives.
The Coffee Belt Road, initiated in 2022, is a transformative project with a budget of approximately P820 million.
This farm-to-market road network is designed to facilitate the efficient transport of coffee from the farms around Mt.Banahaw to the markets in the town proper of Sariaya, Candelaria, Dolores, and nearby district towns, Suarez said in the interview.
This infrastructure development is not only a boon for coffee farmers but also a significant step towards recognizing Quezon’s coffee as a premier product of the region.
Suarez led the groundbreaking ceremony of road concreting in sitio Dulong Ilaya, Barangay Concepcion Pinagbakuran, a portion of coffee belt road, and blessing of multiple buildings in Concepcion Pinagbakuran, and Concepcion Banahaw, on January 8.
The said project also promotes the tourism industry, most particularly the Sariaya town, Suarez added.
