Cacao farmers in Pangasinan have received a total of Php1.49M worth of interventions as part of the Coconut-based Coffee and Cacao Enterprise Development Program (C3EDP) of the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan (CFIDP) of the Department of Agriculture.

Under this program, the Anacletus Agricultural Association, Inc. of Dasol, Pangasinan, was provided with 12,821 cacao seedlings and 3,700 kg of organic fertilizer. Similarly, the Tupa Farmers Agriculture Cooperative in Bolinao, Pangasinan, received 7,750 cacao seedlings along with 2,300 kg of organic fertilizer.

A planting and distribution ceremony was held on December 5 in Sta. Barbara, Pangasinan, led by DA-Agricultural Program Coordinating Officer for Pangasinan, Mr. Marvin G. Quilates, C3EDP/CFIDP focal person, Mr. David John T. Rondal, Philippine Coconut Authority representative, Mr. Bonlizardo E. Cabrera, Bureau of Plant Industry representative, Mr. Christopher S. Cruz, and Agricultural Training Institute representative, Ms. Josephine K. Aben.

As per Philippine Statistics Authority survey from April to June 2023, Ilocos Region ranks 12th in cacao production in the country out of the 16 regions, contributing 15.29 metric tons.