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Peace and Equity Foundation

Brewing a better future for coffee farmers through partnerships

by Contributor June 26, 2026

written by Contributor

MAKATI CITY – A partnership is set to strengthen the future of coffee farming in the uplands of Bukidnon, bringing improved marketing opportunities and enterprise support to hundreds of smallholder farmers, many of whom belong to Indigenous Peoples communities.

On June 9, 2026, the Peace and Equity Foundation (PEF), Angelo King Foundation, Inc. (AKFI), and Kauyagan Savers Multipurpose Cooperative (KSMPC) signed a memorandum of agreement for the construction of a Php 3-million coffee warehouse facility in Impasug-ong, Bukidnon.

More than just a building, the warehouse represents a critical investment in the local coffee value chain. Once completed, it will serve around 200 smallholder coffee farmers by providing facilities for post-harvest handling and storage, essential services that can improve product quality, reduce losses, and strengthen market access.

The initiative forms part of the continuing partnership between AKFI and PEF to develop strategic infrastructure that enables agricultural social enterprises in PEF focus areas to grow, compete, and create greater impact in rural communities.

AKFI committed a grant of Php 2.5 million for the project, while KSMPC will provide Php 500,000 counterpart contribution. PEF will provide capacity building, project development assistance, additional working capital, and monitoring and evaluation services to help ensure the project’s long-term success.

The investment comes at a crucial time for Bukidnon’s growing coffee industry. Kauyagan is among the coffee hubs identified by the provincial government’s coffee roadmap, which aims to consolidate coffee production and reach approximately 120 metric tons by 2030.

Founded in 2004 by 27 pioneering members, KSMPC has evolved into a women-led social enterprise cooperative recognized for empowering Indigenous Peoples and women farmers through savings mobilization, credit services, and inclusive agribusiness ventures. The new

warehouse is expected to strengthen the cooperative’s ability to aggregate, process, and market coffee while creating more value for farming communities.

During the signing ceremony, AKFI president Teddy Kingsu formally handed over the first tranche of funding amounting to ₱1.25 million to incoming PEF executive director Cauchie Garcia. Also present were AKFI chair Ernesto Garilao, AKFI board member Basilio King, outgoing PEF executive director Roberto Calingo, KSMPC chair Paul Paraguya, PEF area manager Nikki Along, and PEF senior program officer Laurinette Gonzalez.

By combining philanthropic investment, enterprise development support, and community leadership, the partnership demonstrates how collaboration creates more resilient rural economies, enabling coffee farmers not only to produce quality coffee but also to participate meaningfully in the opportunities generated along the value chain.

June 26, 2026 0 comments

News

Bringing access to inclusive development through Islamic financing

by Contributor January 22, 2026

written by Contributor

CAGAYAN DE ORO – The Peace and Equity Foundation (PEF) and Escaping the Middle-Income Trap: Chains-for-Change (EMIT C4C) Program of the University of the Philippines Center for Integrative and Development Studies (UP CIDS) presented the landscape, opportunities, and challenges of developing Islamic Financing in the Bangsamoro region on Dec. 9, 2025, in this city.

Attended by representatives from the Bangsamoro parliament, civil society, advocates, microfinance institutions, and academia, the presentation highlighted the development of Islamic finance in the region, current efforts to advance its implementation, and best practices from organizations that have implemented the program.

“The Islamic practices of Sharia financing, Halal, and other essential mechanisms are not just viable options, but pathways to dignity, inclusion, and opportunities in the region, PEF Executive Director Roberto Calingo remarked.

Crafting the Islamic finance landscape

Islamic finance, or Shari’ah-compliant financing, refers to instruments and services that comply with Islamic law. According to the action research, its development and promotion will advance financial inclusion and deliver solutions for Muslims residing in the Bangsamoro region.

“This mechanism is an appropriate and relevant tool for promoting financing because it addresses the pressing need to mobilize capital ethically, fairly, and inclusively,” EMIT-C4C co-convenor Annette Balaoing-Pelkmans said in her presentation of the study results.

In April 2024, PEF and EMIT C4C partnered with the UP Strategic Research and Management Foundation to launch a collaborative action research project. The teams conducted extensive interviews and gathered data across Cotabato City, Sarangani, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, and Zamboanga City. Their findings were later compiled into a comprehensive monograph published in 2025.

After presenting the study results, Bangsamoro Parliament’s policy research and legal service director Nassef Manabilang Adiong shared the government’s efforts to develop a framework for implementing Islamic Finance.

CARD-MRI program manager Daissiel Gonzales also presented their Paglambo project, their Shari’a-inspired microfinancing program. At the same time, Islamic social finance expert Rini Supri Hartanti from Indonesia shared the model used by Ramon Magsaysay Awardee Dompet Dhuafa, along with other best practices in Islamic finance implementation from Indonesia, highlighting approaches to advancing inclusion and diversity in financing.

Making an Islamic finance ecosystem a reality

According to Calingo, PEF will pursue additional efforts beyond action research to develop and scale up community-based models, while partnering with other institutions to expand the implementation of Islamic Finance in the region.

“This is not a one-time engagement for PEF but part of their long-term vision to empower families and strengthen local economies,” he said.

January 22, 2026 0 comments

Business

Good coffee invigorates an upland sitio

by Contributor July 2, 2025

written by Contributor

IN THE northernmost part of Sultan Kudarat lies Lebak, a first-class municipality marked by its expansive coastlines and mountain ranges. Home to 90,000 people (2020 Philippine census), the town’s economy depends heavily on farming and fishing.

Yet, despite its classification, Lebak continues to grapple with deep-seated poverty. With a poverty rate of 35.17% – more than double the national average of 15.5% – many communities, especially in the upland sitios, are held back by unpaved road networks and limited access to services.

One such sitio is Keytodac, a remote, mountainous barangay located nearly two hours from the town proper. While most residents rely on corn and vegetable farming, a new crop is brewing hope: coffee. At the heart of this transformation is a cooperative, fueled by a shared vision to uplift the lives of smallholder farmers and bring lasting change to the community.

From vision to action

The Keytodac Coffee Growers Inc. (KCGI) was founded in 2008 by Reynaldo Ostan and 43 fellow coffee farmers, aiming to break free from the cycle of debt and dependency on traders who controlled pricing and provided cash advances.

“It was created solely to uplift the lives of marginalized farmers in the area,” said KCGI General Manager Crisanto Pascual.

The group sought support from the government and development institutions for working capital, marketing, and organizational capacity building.

Their breakthrough came in 2016 when they partnered with the PinoyMe Foundation for the Reducing Rural Poverty through Agroenterprise Project (RRPTA), funded by the Gerry Roxas Foundation. The project provided KCGI with working capital for coffee consolidation and trading, enabling them to aggregate 17 metric tons of green coffee beans.

It was also during this partnership that KCGI was introduced to the Peace and Equity Foundation (PEF).

Strengthening Ground for Growth

In 2018, PEF provided Php 1 million working capital to KCGI for trading, capacity building, and post-harvest facilities. The impact was immediate: KCGI’s consolidated volume grew from 17 to 20 metric tons of GCB within a year.

The partnership also provided relief to the partner farmers in the consolidation project. KCGI’s premium price is Php 5 higher than traders’ prices for coffee.

Now known as Keytodac Coffee Growers Agricultural Cooperative (KCGAC), the organization has become a key consolidator in the upland barangays in Lebak. It provides support to other people’s organizations in neighboring barangays.

Government agencies, such as the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), have increased their support for KCGAC’s initiatives.

Today, the cooperative markets its own coffee brand, Kape On, which translates to “good coffee” in Manobo. The brand has gained traction in regional and national trade fairs and is now available in local markets across the province.

“I believe producing good coffee is not just about proper farm practices and maintenance. It’s also about unity, dedication, and partnership towards success,” Pascual said.

July 2, 2025 0 comments