Department of Trade and Industry-Davao (DTI-Davao) Director Rachel S. Remitio disclosed that the department is capitalizing on the youth to increase the consumption of local chocolates.
“Sila yung ma-tap natin to increase the local consumption. What we really want is for our locals to have an appreciation of our Davao City chocolates because we are known as the chocolate capital yet the people are buying imported chocolates,” Remitio said during Business Forum @ Hukad at Ayala Malls Abreeza.
Remitio said they want to capitalize on the youth’s creativity and innovative ways.
“We can start that sa mga schools offering culinary contests so that they can create bagong products for chocolate. Of course, we can take advantage of their presence on social media as vloggers, etc.,” she said.
Remitio added that it is also best to start the youth through exposure to the different processes of cacao.
She said this is the reason why DTI-Davao has tapped the youth and creative sectors during the recently concluded 2024 World Chocolate Day celebration at the Ayala Malls Abreeza.
The celebration was part of the several initiatives of the DTI-Davao City Field Office (DTI-DCFO), which aims to upscale the enterprise level of cacao-affiliated micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) supported through the Industry Cluster Enhancement (ICE) program.
Remitio said DTI-DCFO, along with the members of the Cacao Industry Development Council, recognizes the significance of both the youth and the creative sectors in elevating Davao’s cacao industry.
The celebration was centered on the youth’s roles in preserving the city’s title as the country’s chocolate capital.
“We wanted to showcase the versatility of Davao City’s cacao, demonstrating how it can be utilized in various ways, including by artists and the youth,” Remitio said.
This year’s celebration was highlighted with several activities such as the “Tsokolate Obra,” which showcased the artistic skills of Dabawenyo youth, wherein they used chocolate as a medium of art; there was also the Kakaw Krafting activity, an arts and crafts session using fossilized cacao leaves; and the Kakaw Talks segment, which served as a platform for the event’s primary advocacies: youth empowerment and generation and the sustainability of the cacao industry.
