P1B APRUBADO NA BILANG DAGDAG BUDGET NG PHILIPPINE COCONUT AUTHORITY

APRUBADO na at kasama na sa National Expenditure Program for 2024 ang P1 bilyon para sa revitalization ng coconut industry.

Sinabi ni PCA Administrator Bernie Cruz nitong Martes (Agosto 29), out of their request for P11-billion additional budget, only P1B billion was included in the NEP for 2024. Dagdag ni Cruz, mismong si President Bongbong Marcos ang nagsabing “Kailangan nating magreplant para mareplenish ang coconut trees.”

“By next year, a factory will be put up to mass produce the coconut by products to be used as construction materials,” ani Cruz.

Ayon kay Cruz, “PBBM noted that instead of importing construction materials made from coconut by products, the Philippines should itself mass produce such construction materials. “The coconut husks will be made as coconut bricks for construction materials which are termite-proof.

Bernie Cruz, who is also a former Agrarian Reform Undersecretary, the 100M coconut trees to start planting in August 2023. It is targeted to finish the massive planting of 100 million coconut trees within the term of PBBM or until 2028.

Cruz noted that a seed bank or seed garden will be established in every province in coordination with the big players in the coconut industry.

They have an agreement with the farmers to directly supply them with needed coconut products. There is an estimated 3 million coconut farmers all over the country.

The coconut industry is also a top dollar earner of the Philippines. (PAUL JOHN REYES)