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Senator Christopher “Bong” Go on Sunday welcomed President Duterte’s approval to release the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council’s (NDRRMC) funds for the Philippine Coconut Authority’s (PCA) proposed Coconut Debris Management Plan.

Though she is one of the initial authors of the proposed Coconut Levy Fund law when she was still a member of the 16th Congress, presidential aspirant Vice President Leni Robredo said she has objections to the new version signed by President Duterte into law earlier this year.

President Duterte has reiterated his call for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to remain united in pursuing peace, stability, and prosperity in the South China Sea in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the 2016 Arbitral Award.

The Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (DOST-PCAARRD) and research centers of the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) in Zamboanga and Albay have successfully produced ex-vitro plantlets of tall, dwarf and hybrid coconut varieties.

Retired Supreme Court (SC) Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio has good things to say about Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso even if the latter didn’t end up getting 1Sambayan’s endorsement for the presidency in next year’s polls.

While admitting that her office has no official role in the country’s dealing with China, Vice President Leni Robredo pushed for a multilateral approach in resolving the maritime dispute with the Asian giant.

The construction sector yesterday warned that Senate Bill 1809 filed by Senator Ramon Revilla Jr., who seeks to open the industry to foreign competition, will be a “death knell” for  domestic players who have not enough capital to match foreign firms.

Farmers’ groups do not expect the Philippine government to deliver anytime soon the machineries urgently needed to develop the coconut sector even with the passage of the Republic Act (RA) 11524, also known as the Coconut Farmers and Industry Trust Fund Act or Coco Levy Act.  

The Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PHilMech) will be needing additional personnel to fulfill its role in the newly passed Republic Act (RA) 11524, also known as the Coconut Farmers and Industry Trust Fund Act or Coco Levy Act.            

The Philippine Constructors Association (PCA) has warned that the move to further open the domestic construction industry to foreign contractors could displace Filipino firms, especially the small players. 

On signing of Coco Levy Act

Producers of biodiesel commodity in the country are intensifying calls on the government to finally implement hike in the blend to 5 percent by volume or B5 from currently at 2 percent or B2.

The coconut industry roadmap that will be used as a guide in the disbursement of the P100-billion coconut levy fund is still being drafted, said a top official of the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA).          

           Coconut farmers are questioning some provisions of the Coconut Farmers and Industry Trust Fund Act (Coco Levy Act) such as the annual allocation of portions of the P100-billion coco levy fund to several government agencies, some of which have had no participation in coconut industry development at all.

Coconut industry stakeholders are upbeat that recent trials that show coconut oil having strong potential in fighting COVID-19 may provide a much-needed boost to the industry as well as the Philippine economy as a whole.

CEBU CITY – The Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) embarked on a replanting project of coconuts and be paid for it as its assistance to coconut farmers whose livelihood income from the tree had gone down the drain due to COVID-19 pandemic.