The Mat-i Higaonon Free Farmers Association (MAHIFFA), an Indigenous People’s Organization (IPO) supported by Forest Foundation Philippines, has earned the national recognition for the quality of its Excelsa coffee beans at the 2026 Philippine Coffee Quality Competition (PCQC), held during the Philippine Coffee Expo 2026.
This marks MAHIFFA’s first time winning recognition in the competition, while also continuing the growing presence of Misamis Oriental coffee farmers on the national stage—making it the second consecutive year that coffee from the province has been recognized at the Expo. The achievement highlights the dedication, craftsmanship, and resilience of Indigenous and local farming communities engaged in coffee production in Northern Mindanao.
MAHIFFA is among the organizations supported through Forest Foundation Philippines’ partnership project with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), its partner, and the Philippine Coffee Alliance (PCAI), its grantee, titled “Community Coffee for Forest Conservation.” The project aims to improve the management of forestlands in coffee-based agroforestry communities by enhancing farm productivity, improving post harvest operations and marketing, and building the capacities of farmer organizations.
In 2022, the Foundation partnered with the DTI Region 10 for their RAPID Growth Project, a value chain-based initiative funded by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). The program strengthens strategic partnerships in the coffee sector to improve smallholder farmer incomes, expand market access, and support the growth of Micro, Small, and Medium enterprises (MSMEs), while reinforcing linkages between farmers and markets. Through the RAPID Growth Project, participating communities receive support in technical training, post-harvest improvement, and access to better market opportunities, contributing to improved coffee quality and competitiveness in Bukidnon and Misamis Oriental. Through the Foundation’s collaboration with DTI Region 10, selected activities are co-supported to integrate forest conservation and climate resilience into coffee-based livelihood systems. Beyond improving incomes, the partnership promotes sustainable coffee-based agroforestry systems such as shade-grown coffee, which help maintain forest cover, enhance biodiversity, and strengthen ecosystem resilience in coffee-producing landscapes. By linking livelihood development with forest conservation, the initiative demonstrates how community-based enterprise models can support both thriving rural economies and healthy forest ecosystems.
As coffee continues to connect people, markets, and landscapes, this milestone affirms a shared vision: Livelihoods that flourish in harmony with the conservation of the environment.
About Forest Foundation Philippines:
Forest Foundation Philippines (FFP) is a non-governmental organization that provides grants and technical assistance to individuals and organizations that empower the people to protect and conserve the forests.
About DTI RAPID Growth Project:
The Rural Agro-enterprise Partnership for Inclusive Development and Growth (RAPID Growth) Project is a flagship initiative of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) aimed at boosting rural economies and reducing poverty in the Philippines. Funded by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), it focuses on sustainably increasing the income of small farmers and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
About the Philippine Coffee Alliance:
The Philippine Coffee Alliance is the first and largest network of small holder coffee farmers. Its primary objective is to promote and protect the interests of the Philippine coffee industry and empower the smallholder Filipino coffee farmers.
