CEBU CITY — Sen. Pia Cayetano has called on the Philippine Cacao Industry to embrace innovation and develop healthier chocolate products.

Cayetano made the call during a two-day National Cacao Congress in Cebu City on July 31, where different stakeholders from both public and private sectors gathered for the promotion of local chocolate products.

Addressing a thousand of attendees, Cayetano highlighted the potential for growth in sugar-free and health-conscious chocolate alternatives using local cacao beans.

"I am very happy to be here, and let me just thank the organizers and call out the people who made this happen," began Cayetano as she expressed her gratitude to the Philippine Cacao Industry Association and the various government agencies involved.

The senator shared her personal love for chocolate, reminiscing about her early experiences with the treat.

Cayetano recounted her journey from a skeptic of dark chocolate to an avid supporter after discovering high-quality, less commercialized dark chocolates during her visits to Switzerland for the Inter-Parliamentary Union meetings.

"Up to now, you won't find me buying commercial chocolate, especially the American brands. I find them so sweet. And if you really read the literature, it has contributed to the obesity problem in the US," she said, urging the local industry to consider the health implications of their products.

Highlighting the versatility of cacao, Cayetano mentioned innovative products she encountered at the congress, including chocolate-flavored lip balm.

She encouraged further exploration into nontraditional uses of cacao and the development of health-focused chocolate products.

"As was mentioned, and I'm sure all of you have been discussing it, all the other products that we can come up with, that its main ingredient is cacao. But I'd like to share an idea I have, which I feel has a lot of room for growth in the world," she said.

Her speech was well-received by the diverse group of stakeholders present, including representatives from the Department of Trade and Industry, the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Agrarian Reform, the Department of Science and Technology, the Department of Tourism, and the Department of the Interior and Local Government.

Meanwhile, one of the exhibitors, Marilyn Magnayon, owner of Don Ricardo's, a startup chocolate manufacturer in General Santos City, shared that they started the company during the pandemic.

She said that her goal is to introduce Sarangani chocolate to the public, acknowledging that it is a challenge, saying that neighboring Davao Region's chocolate is more known.

Magnayon told The Manila Times that they will continue to create products out of local cacao beans and market them to the world. Currently, her company is known for its 97 percent chocolate.