Basilan, November 11 --- The Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) Basilan provincial office led the first coconut industry stakeholders’ forum in the province on November 11, 2020, held at the Querexeta Formation Center, Isabela City.

The stakeholders’ forum was attended by 42 participants, composed of representatives from coconut farmer organization and cooperatives, Office of the Provincial Agriculturist, Philippine National Police, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Ministry of Trade and Investment-BARMM, and the Philippine Information Agency.

The forum was organized to identify the challenges of the coconut industry in Basilan, and for the forum group to discuss and propose possible solutions.

During the activity, the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist presented the proposed 5-year Basilan Provincial Coconut Industry Development Plan, which highlights the replanting of coconut trees to replace diseased and senile trees, rehabilitation of trees with low productivity, integrated pest management, and the establishment of a coconut hub in the province.

The coconut industry stakeholders’ forum group also crafted a position paper rejecting the calls to allow the exportation of matured coconuts, citing how such can be very detrimental to the growth and development of our coconut industry.

The schedule for the next forum will be on December, and the main topic will be on integrated pest management. ### (PCA XIV-BARMM)