Marcos eyes PH as biggest coconut products exporter
Published Jun 29, 2023 04:57 am
There is no reason why the Philippines should not be the biggest producer of coconut products for export.
President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. (Ali Vicoy)
President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. made the statement during his speech at the 50th founding anniversary celebration of the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) on Thursday, June 29. "[T]his administration started to formulate the plans on how to redevelop our coconut industry, how to help our coconut farmers. There is no reason why the Philippines should not be the biggest producer of export in terms of coconut products," he said. The President stressed that the country's potential in terms of exporting coconut products is "quite good." He said the government is now "going to sit down to finalize" the plan to bolster the country's coconut production. "Kaya hindi talaga tama (This is not right), we cannot allow this very, very grand opportunity for our farmers to slip by," he further said. The chief executive said the government is not at a point where it is looking at the coconut industry as an industry, noting that "it is now time to revitalize that economy for the betterment of not only coconut farmers but for the entire economy." Replanting and intercropping will be included in the effort to bring back the old glory of the country's coconut industry. "I am very optimistic that we will be able to bring back to the coconut industry… When the government fell in 1986, all of those very important programs for the coconut industry stopped," he said. In order to achieve the goal, Marcos pointed out that the coconut farmers must get all the support they need, directing the PCA to improve their conditions. "Through their hard work, they are able to plant, take care of, and nourish resilient coconut trees necessary for the emergence of a stronger coconut industry that we may all reap the benefits of this essential product," he said. "I thus encourage the PCA to continue to uplift [the] lives of our coconut farmers and empower them to improve their conditions, break free from the chains of poverty, and dream bigger for themselves and for their loved ones," he added. He also ordered the PCA to double their efforts in addressing issues in the industry and invest in technologies and initiatives that will safeguard and ensure the resilience of the coconut sector. He added that the PCA must intensify the implementation of the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan to accelerate the modernization of the coconut industry and to improve the lives of coconut farmers and their families.
President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. (Ali Vicoy)
President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. made the statement during his speech at the 50th founding anniversary celebration of the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) on Thursday, June 29. "[T]his administration started to formulate the plans on how to redevelop our coconut industry, how to help our coconut farmers. There is no reason why the Philippines should not be the biggest producer of export in terms of coconut products," he said. The President stressed that the country's potential in terms of exporting coconut products is "quite good." He said the government is now "going to sit down to finalize" the plan to bolster the country's coconut production. "Kaya hindi talaga tama (This is not right), we cannot allow this very, very grand opportunity for our farmers to slip by," he further said. The chief executive said the government is not at a point where it is looking at the coconut industry as an industry, noting that "it is now time to revitalize that economy for the betterment of not only coconut farmers but for the entire economy." Replanting and intercropping will be included in the effort to bring back the old glory of the country's coconut industry. "I am very optimistic that we will be able to bring back to the coconut industry… When the government fell in 1986, all of those very important programs for the coconut industry stopped," he said. In order to achieve the goal, Marcos pointed out that the coconut farmers must get all the support they need, directing the PCA to improve their conditions. "Through their hard work, they are able to plant, take care of, and nourish resilient coconut trees necessary for the emergence of a stronger coconut industry that we may all reap the benefits of this essential product," he said. "I thus encourage the PCA to continue to uplift [the] lives of our coconut farmers and empower them to improve their conditions, break free from the chains of poverty, and dream bigger for themselves and for their loved ones," he added. He also ordered the PCA to double their efforts in addressing issues in the industry and invest in technologies and initiatives that will safeguard and ensure the resilience of the coconut sector. He added that the PCA must intensify the implementation of the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan to accelerate the modernization of the coconut industry and to improve the lives of coconut farmers and their families.