Davao City is now the Chocolate Capital of the Philippines

Davao City is officially named as the Chocolate Capital of the Philippines after President Rodrigo Duterte signed R.A. 11547, on Thursday, May 27.

R.A. 11547 is an act declaring Davao City as the Chocolate Capital of our country and the whole Region XI (Davao Region) as the Cacao Capital of the Philippines.

The act recognizes the important role that cacao plays not just as a raw material that can greatly increase the country's export earnings, and make the Philippines known worldwide as a producer of the finest chocolate beans, but more importantly, as a growing industry that provides livelihood to many small farmers in the countryside.

Over the recent years, Davao has become the country's largest producer of cacao, and this has helped the Philippines become a renowned and sought after cacao supplier to chocolate makers in the United States, Japan, and Europe.

Last year, a similar declaration was made by the Department of Agriculture after Davao City produced 2,289 metric tons of cacao, which is tantamount to 38% of their contribution to the chocolate source in 2019.

Aside from being the biggest cacao supplier in the country, Davao's Malagos 100% Premium Unsweetened Chocolate, which has fermented dried cacao as its only ingredient, is also award-winning.

Last year, the Malagos Chocolate won four gold awards at the first-ever virtual World Drinking Chocolate Competition.

It bagged the gold awards for the following categories: Plain/Origin Drinking Chocolate Dark (made with water), Growing Country, Chocolate Maker, and Direct Traded.

It also took home the bronze award for the Plain/Origin Dark Drinking Chocolate (made with milk) category.

Moreover, Davao City has been celebrating its cacao production through the Davao Chocolate Festival, which began in 2014.

Davao City now joins the ranks of cities and municipalities in the country which have their nicknames, such as Baguio City (Summer Capital of the Philippines) and La Trinidad City (Strawberry Capital of the Philippines) in Benguet Province, Marikina City (Shoe Capital of the Philippines), Navotas City (Fishing Capital of the Philippines), Bocaue City in Bulacan (Fireworks Capital of the Philippines), San Fernando City in Pampanga (Christmas Capital of the Philippines). Angono City in Rizal (Art Capital of the Philippines), and Calamba City in Laguna (Hot Spring Capital of the Philippines).

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Speaking of chocolate, you might also want to read about the world's largest chocolate museum.

Or you might want to check out the stunning photos of Davao Oriental, captured by vlogger Kyle “Kulas” Jennerman.