The Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) through the One Meralco Foundation (OMF), has energized the post-harvest coffee bean processing facility of around 150 coffee farmers in Talakag, Bukidnon.
Meralco said coffee farmers are now benefitting from the 5-kilowatt solar photovoltaic system that was turned over to the Milalittra Farmers Agriculture Cooperative (MILFACO), whose members are from the Miarayon-Lapok-Lirongan-Tinaytayan-Talaandig Tribal Association Inc. (Milalittra), one of the indigenous groups of Bukidnon.
The newly energized post-harvest production facility improved the Talaandig coffee farmers’ productivity by enabling them to run their pulping machine for four hours which is an essential step to post-harvest production.
From previously pulping coffee cherries for 10 minutes per kilo manually, they can now pulp 60 kilos per hour which is expected to result in about 43 percent increase in their income.
“With electricity, our coffee beans will be of high quality so that we can find the right buyers at a right price point. The electrification has helped us give justice to the hard work of our coffee farmers,” said Joannah Dumaquita, MILFACO general manager.
Meralco added the installation of the solar PV system was also made possible by Meralco employees’ donation of a combined P560,000 for the energization project that benefitted MILFACO.
Apart from this project, OMF’s recent programs include the energization of 300 schools, four rural health centers, three water access facilities and three agriculture and livelihood facilities.
