Kape Mo'To Tour: Sultan Kudarat’s Road to Becoming a Coffee Destination

 

In Sultan Kudarat Province, coffee is more than a morning ritual. It is a heritage crop, a source of livelihood, and now a tourism centerpiece. The Department of Tourism Region XII (DOT XII) has taken a significant step toward positioning the province as an emerging coffee destination by launching its first coffee circuit—the Kape Mo’To Tour.

By linking farms, cafés, and processing centers into a unified route, the initiative highlights how tourism can strengthen local economies while preserving cultural identity. On November 15, 2025, DOT XII formally launched the tour with a brief program at the Tourism Rest Area in Tacurong City.

The circuit spans the municipalities of Senator Ninoy Aquino (SNA), Bagumbayan, Esperanza, Isulan, and Tacurong City.

In SNA, destinations include 7R Café, Denz Farm, Tinalon Farmers Association, Raz Café, Des Café, Kape Dulangan Coffee Processing Factory, and the Black Shrine. In Bagumbayan, stops include Charmich Street Café, Isaan Farm, G-Farm, and Bansada Agri-Eco Park.

Esperanza highlights the public market’s popular halo-halo stalls and The Laundry Café, while Isulan features Otso Café Bar, 12:21 Café Bar, and Marieton Bakery Café. Tacurong City completes the route with Whisk Café, Qetsiyah Café, the SKSU Coffee Cupping Laboratory, and A.C. Garcia Corporation.

The tour forms part of DOT XII’s broader farm tourism program, showcasing the journey of coffee from farm to cup. Participants learn sustainable practices, observe the production stages, and experience the unique flavors of Sultan Kudarat’s highlands. By incorporating motorcycle tourism, the tour also appeals to moto enthusiasts eager to explore rural landscapes and local communities.

Community Preparation

Ahead of the launch, DOT XII conducted a two-day site identification and product audit on October 28–29, 2025, evaluating both potential and existing farm tourism sites. The assessment focused on quality, safety, sustainability, and readiness for tourist activity.

As the country’s top Robusta producer, Sultan Kudarat plays a central role in DOT XII’s goal of developing coffee circuits across SOCCSKSARGEN.

“The coffee tour can broaden the region’s tourism narrative from food and culture to coffee and adventure,” said DOT XII Chief Tourism Operations Officer Rodel Hilado. “It positions SOX as a premier coffee and adventure corridor in Mindanao.”

DOT XII also held the Philippine Farmsthetics Training on November 4–5 in SNA, equipping farmers, café owners, and tourism entrepreneurs with skills to improve visitor experience and farm aesthetics.

Assistant Regional Director Engr. Armin Hautea emphasized the importance of linking farm activities to the tourism value chain, noting that experiential farm visits can boost both appreciation and income for local producers.

An Accreditation Roadshow for Farm Tourism followed, providing guidance on DOT standards and certifications.

DOT XII later organized the Davao Coffee Tour Immersion on November 7, enabling Sultan Kudarat stakeholders to benchmark best practices in Bansalan, Toril, and Ma-a in the Davao Region.

Integrating Coffee into Farm Tourism

In 2023, Sultan Kudarat became the country’s leading coffee producer, surpassing the combined output of Batangas, Cavite, and Bukidnon. According to the Philippine Statistics Authority Region 12, the province supplies 35 percent of the country’s total coffee production. Of the region’s 26,172 hectares of coffee farms, 20,437 hectares—or 78 percent—are located in Sultan Kudarat, with approximately 19 million coffee trees across its municipalities.

In line with Republic Act 10816 or the Farm Tourism Development Act of 2016, DOT XII has strengthened farm tourism since 2018, supporting farm sites in diversifying their offerings through food, wellness, and experiential activities.

“The Kape Mo’To Tour tells the province’s story through movement, flavor, and landscape,” Hilado said. “It creates a tourism model that is inclusive, circular, and sustainable.”

He added that the initiative encourages inter-provincial tourism circuits connecting Sultan Kudarat with South Cotabato, Sarangani, and Cotabato—further strengthening the province’s bid to become the country's coffee capital.

Benefiting the Local Coffee Value Chain

For young farmer Denz Bert Deramos, the tour opens new opportunities for his workers—many of whom are members of the Dulangan Manobo tribe. A multi-awarded Robusta grower, he sees tourism as a way to share both traditional and modern farming practices with visitors.

“Coffee farming thrives here in SNA,” he said. “We have the right climate and altitude. Tourists will enjoy immersing in our community.”

In Tacurong City, Whisk Café owner Kristoffer Laurence Angeles views the tour as a platform to strengthen the province’s growing coffee identity.

“For us, it brings visibility and a chance to champion homegrown coffee on a bigger platform,” he said.

Janice Diambulang Estrellas, a DOT-accredited tour operator, described her sector as the bridge between travelers and the communities behind the cup.

“We ensure visitors feel the culture, hear the stories, and taste the local coffee,” she said. “Authentic experiences make the tour meaningful.”

The Sultan Kudarat State University (SKSU) also plays a vital role through research, technical assistance, and education. Its Coffee Cupping Laboratory and Barista Training Center, included in the tour, helps visitors understand quality standards and local innovations.

“The tour shows that Sultan Kudarat is not just claiming the title of ‘Coffee Capital of the Philippines’—it is proving it,” said SKSU BSTM Program Chairperson Vina Marie Martin.

Brighter Future for the SOX Coffee Industry

DOT XII Regional Director Nelia Arina emphasized the agency’s commitment to developing coffee-based tourism, strengthening existing destinations, and supporting entrepreneurs and farmers.

“We enhance the potential of the coffee industry by incorporating tourism concepts,” she said. “This initiative serves as a springboard for more mature coffee tour projects.”

The Kape Mo’To Tour is more than a themed itinerary. It is a declaration of identity and confidence. It brings together farmers, entrepreneurs, students, riders, and indigenous communities into one shared narrative: that Sultan Kudarat’s future can be built from its own soil. Each farm stop, each cup served, and each story shared strengthens the province’s claim as a rising coffee powerhouse.

As riders trace the winding roads from SNA to Tacurong, they follow a route shaped by resilience, craft, and community. And with every visitor who comes to taste, learn, and explore, Sultan Kudarat moves one step closer to securing its place on the country’s coffee map—one cup, one community, and one journey at a time.