ILOILO CITY – This city is hosting the first-ever Coffee, Cacao, and Coconut (CoCaNut) Congress from November 8 to 10 organized by the Panay Organization for Progressive Agriculture (POPA) Cooperative chaired by Dr. Louie Tirador.
“The economic value of these three commodities is very high,” said Larry Nacionales, POPA Cooperative chairperson for the CoCaNut Congress.
Nacionales, a former director of the Department of Agriculture-6 (Western Visayas), said the congress seeks farmers to not only to focus on rice but also on these three high-value crops.

RESOURCE speakers answer questions from the media in the press conference for the Coffee, Cacao, and Coconut (CoCaNut) Congress hosted by Iloilo City in November. (Tara Yap)
Nacionales said there is a big market abroad as the country exports around P10-billion worth of coffee.
“The three products can even co-exist,” added Buen Mondejar, chairman of the Regional Agriculture and Fisheries Council (RAFC) for Western Visayas.
Tirador said they expect 1,500 industry players, industry experts, and government partners in the three-day congress.
The event will showcase latest scientific practices in the production and post-production of coffee, cacao, and coconut.