TO address the growing demand for coconut products, the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) is set to conduct mass planting and replanting of coconut trees nationwide.

PCA Administrator Bernie Cruz said that the move is in response to the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during the recent 50th anniversary celebration of the agency.

“Ang bilin ng presidente ay magtanim tayo nang sa ganun ay hindi tayo kulangin ng suplay. Dati puro coconut oil lang, ngayon more than 60 products na ang pwede nating magawa sa ating coconut.

Kapag tayo ay nag-replant ng niyog, madodoble natin ang average yield na 44 nuts per year na bunga at dodoble rin ang kita ng mga farmer,” Cruz stressed.

Aside from this initiative, the PCA also recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Confederation of Coconut Farmers Organizations of the Philippines (CCFOP-CONFED) and the Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement (PRRM) which aimed to revitalize the country’s coconut industry and increase farmers’ incomes and drive economic development.

The MoU signed between PCA and CFOP-CONFED, represented by its Executive Director Charles Avila, along with PRRM, represented by President Edicio dela Torre, seeks to promote collaboration and expand the reach of support services of the PCA.

During the signing, Cruz disclosed that the PCA has been in constant communication with coconut farmers to assess the real situation on the ground.

He added that the coconut remains one of the country’s top dollar-earning exports despite years of stagnation and lack of support.

“Sa ngayon, nananatiling top dollar earner ang coconut industry, pero sabi nga ng mga coconut farmers ay hindi nasusuportahan nang mabuti.

Kaya ang hamon sa atin ngayon ay magtulungan at hindi magpatalo dahil tayo ang nagsimula na magpakilala sa mundo ng ating mga coconut products,” Cruz said.

In 2021, based on data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), coconut oil ($1.431 billion), desiccated coconut ($396 million) and copra oil cake ($67.54 million) secured the first, fourth, and 10th positions, respectively, among the Philippines’ top agricultural exports in terms of value in dollars.

Furthermore, non-traditional coconut products like virgin coconut oil (worth P26 billion in exports), coconut concentrates (P4.40 billion) and coconut milk (P2.44 billion) have swiftly gained ground in export earnings according to the latest data from PCA.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Cory Martinez