DAVAO CITY (May 6) — Davao City is expanding its popular coffee and chocolate crawl this June, banking on tourism to boost its “Chocolate Capital” branding—but questions persist on whether cacao farmers are benefiting from the growing spotlight on local flavors.
The month-long “Kape ug Tsokolate Crawl,” part of the Duaw Davao, will feature more cafés and chocolate shops as the City Tourism Operations Office opens participation to a wider range of local businesses. Participants will visit accredited establishments, collect stickers, and earn prizes upon completion.
Tourism officials said the expansion is intended to make the program more inclusive and encourage residents and visitors to explore more homegrown cafés. The initiative builds on Davao’s designation under Republic Act No. 11547, which recognizes the city as the country’s “Chocolate Capital” and the wider region as a key cacao producer.
However, industry concerns remain over the gap between urban café growth and farm-level realities. Many cacao farmers continue to face unstable farmgate prices, limited access to post-harvest facilities, and rising production costs—raising questions about how much of the tourism boom reaches rural producers.
Inclusivity within the program is also being watched closely. While at least 50 establishments are expected to join, participation requirements such as minimum menu offerings may still limit entry for smaller or newer cafés trying to break into the market.
As Davao strengthens its identity as a coffee and cacao tourism hub, stakeholders say the challenge is ensuring that growth is not concentrated in city-based businesses alone—but also translates into stronger, more stable livelihoods for the farmers at the start of the value chain.
