The Hope Builders Organization Negros Island Inc. (HBONI) has launched “Civitas Coffee,” a premium 100% robusta product, to create better market opportunities for farmers in southern Negros Occidental.

HBONI works directly with local farmers, buying their coffee beans and turning them into finished ground coffee, giving growers a bigger share of the value. The supply is largely made up of robusta beans, a variety widely cultivated in the area.

The organization named the product Civitas Coffee, from the Latin word civitas meaning “community,” to highlight its people-centered approach that connects farmers to processing and market access.

HBONI has set the initial prices of its products at P650 per kilogram, P320 per half kilogram, and P160 per quarter kilogram (1/4).

The group said the pricing reflects both the quality of the coffee and its goal of ensuring fair returns for farmers.

HBONI currently operates on a small scale and continues to work with partner communities to improve production and maintain quality standards.

To expand operations, HBONI is seeking partnership with the Camindangan Planters and Farm Workers Association (CAPFWA), which operates a coffee processing facility and has established market linkages. The collaboration aims to support larger production while maintaining consistent supply and quality.

HBONI said the initiative strengthens the role of farmers not only in growing coffee but also in bringing their products to the market, as it pushes for a more sustainable coffee industry in Negros Island Region.*