DAVAO CITY — For 30 days this June, the country's Chocolate Capital will invite visitors to taste its way through homegrown cafés and chocolate shops, collecting stickers toward a city-sponsored prize. The Duaw Davao Kape ug Tsokolate Crawl returns from June 1 to 30, 2026, with the Davao City Tourism Operations Office expanding participation to welcome more local establishments than ever before.
CTOO officer-in-charge Willenito Tormis Jr. said the crawl has become a staple of the Duaw Davao festivities. "We have extended our Kape ug Tsokolate Crawl to make it more inclusive. Before, only a few small shops participated, but now, we've scaled it up so more establishments can join and more Dabawenyos can visit them," he said.
A Chocolate Capital Proud of Its Roots
The crawl draws its identity from Republic Act 11547, which in 2021 designated Davao City as the Chocolate Capital of the Philippines and the Davao Region as the Cacao Capital. The law recognized cacao's role in rural development, export growth, and sustaining smallholder farmers. The region produced 7,807 metric tons of cacao in 2025, accounting for 72 percent of national output.
Davao City alone holds approximately 1,300 to 1,500 hectares of cacao farms, mostly in the Calinan district. The city also accounted for 60 percent of the region's total cacao production. Cacao producers and entrepreneurs have expressed confidence that locally grown cacao will strengthen the city's identity, tourism potential, and export competitiveness.
Stickers, Prizes, and the Joy of Discovery
The crawl mechanics are simple and rewarding. Participants collect stickers at each coffee and chocolate shop they visit. Completing the full set earns them a prize from the city government. To qualify, businesses must be locally owned and offer at least five coffee or chocolate drinks that earn crawlers a sticker.
At least 50 establishments will be selected through a raffle system by the executive committee, provided they meet all guidelines. The CTOO released the official mechanics on May 4, setting a May 19 deadline for shops to submit applications.
A City Ready to Welcome the World
The expanded crawl arrives as Davao solidifies its standing as the Philippines' top-ranked travel destination. The April 2026 World Travel Index placed the city first for the second consecutive year, citing safety, infrastructure, and visitor satisfaction. Japanese tourists have also begun frequenting Davao through private tour operators organizing dedicated coffee tours.
Tormis said the expanded crawl provides Dabawenyos and tourists more opportunities to explore homegrown flavors. For more details on guidelines and mechanics, interested participants may visit the Duaw Davao Official Facebook Page. For 30 days this June, Davao's cafés and chocolate shops will open their doors wider than ever.
