The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to foster an efficient community relationship that leads towards enhancing the country’s coconut production.

DILG Secretary Benhur Abalos and PCA Administrator Bernie Cruz led the signing of the MOU which seeks to drum up support and cooperation for the PCA’s Massive Coconut Planting and Replanting Project 2023-2028.

“With 69 out of 82 provinces in the country producing coconut, I am confident that the DILG, in the exercise of its mandate of general supervision over local government units, is in a very pivotal position to help the PCA in its endeavor,” Abalos said.

“The PCA seeks to plant 20 to 25 million trees annually from 2023 to 2028 or 100 million trees and develop strategies in post-harvest, processing, and marketing interventions under the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan,’’ the DILG noted.

Abalos stressed the importance of the coconut industry in the agriculture sector, noting that coconut exports contribute an annual average of 35 percent to the country’s total agricultural exports.

He added that the agreement is in line with the call of President Marcos to employ a whole-of-nation approach in addressing the societal challenges that confront the country.

“Ito po ay sagot sa panawagan ng Mahal na Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. na magkaisa at magtulungan upang maiangat ang antas ng pamumuhay ng mga Pilipino, lalong-lalo na iyong mga nangangailangan (This is the answer to the call of the beloved President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. for unity and help one another to improve the quality of life of Filipinos, especially those in the impoverished sector). With this as the foundation of our goal, we can usher in a new era of progress by leveraging the power of the coconut to build a better, self-sufficient, and prosperous country,” Abalos said.

Under the MOU, the DILG is tasked to promote community involvement in assisting and endorsing the PCA in the conduct of information dissemination among farmers; ensure participation of barangays in PCA’s programs, projects, and activities and assist in the conduct of training and capacity development activities at the barangay level.