Coffee academy launched in Batangas

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Education has launched a coffee academy at the Pinagtongulan National High School in Lipa City, Batangas for high school students.

“The academy is envisioned to produce students who have the technical know-how on research, cultivation and production of the famous Batangas coffee,” said Education Secretary Armin Luistro.

The famous Kapeng Barako of Batangas, which suffered from coffee rust that caused its decline many decades ago, is expected to be revived when coffee growing technology is taught to senior high school students under the K+12 basic education program.

Luistro said the DepEd’s K+12 basic education program was designed to produce graduates who are equipped with knowledge and skills to prepare them for the world of work or college education.

Senior high school (Grade 11 and Grade 12) will be devoted to the honing of students’ skills in their preferred industry or line of work.

The curriculum under K+12 was designed to make it adapt to local employment and industry needs. DepEd Division of Lipa City will pilot the Lipa Coffee Academy. It will be a special program for senior high school starting school year 2012-2013 (Grade 11) and 2013-2014 (Grade 12).

Some of the subjects to be taught under the special curriculum are basic research method, project feasibility study, coffee nursery management and practices, as well as entrepreneurial development.

“We want our youth to take part in bringing back the glory days of coffee in Batangas,” explained Luistro.

Coffee, first introduced in 1740 in Lipa, Batangas by a Franciscan monk, thrived in the towns of Ibaan, Lemery, San Jose, Taal, Tanauan and Lipa. In 1860, Lipa started exporting Kapeng Barako to San Francisco. When the Suez Canal was opened, a new market was opened as well in Europe. At the height of its popularity, Kapeng Barako commanded five times the price of other Asian coffee beans.

In 1889, however, coffee rust and insect infestation affected all the coffee trees in Lipa, which forced farmers to shift to other crops. It did not cause the total collapse of the industry but the planting area was greatly reduced and the industry suffered heavily.