Manila, July 14 -- The 3rd Dumaguete Coffee Festival is expected to ramp up the local coffee industry and bolster sales and market opportunities in Negros Oriental, an official of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said Monday.

Maribel Sumanoy, DTI-Negros Oriental division chief for SMEs (small and medium enterprises) and DTI Region 7 focal person for coffee, said the festival will promote coffee farmers, business entities, and individuals working in the industry.

"It's an activity to help promote our coffee industry and serves as a marketing platform for coffee farmers, coffee shops, retail suppliers of coffee equipment, and other stakeholders to gather together in one setting," Sumanoy said in an interview.

Twenty-five exhibi...