Duterte signs law dubbing Davao City as Philippines' chocolate capital

President Rodrigo Duterte has signed into law the measure naming his hometown Davao City as the Chocolate Capital of the Philippines, the Palace said Thursday.

Duterte signed Republic Act 11547, which also designates Davao Region as Cacao Capital of the Philippines.

The law said the distinction was to recognize cacao as a driver of local economy and a raw material that could increase the country's export earnings tremendously.

Cacao is sought after by chocolate makers in the United States, Japan, and Europe.

"They have the country on the map for producing finest chocolate beans and providing livelihood or many small farmers in the countryside," the law said. —Llanesca T. Panti/GMA News