Quezon City, March 3 --- The Department of Agriculture-Philippine Coconut Authority (DA-PCA) met with various coconut farmer group leaders to discuss the Coconut Farmers and Industry Trust Fund Act or RA 11524, on March 3, 2021 through a virtual meeting.

The said meeting aims to serve as an avenue for the DA and the DA-PCA to meet with the leaders of the coconut farmer groups to brief them on the RA 11524, and to have a forum for the open exchange of ideas, concerns, and recommendations.

The activity is one of the DA-PCA’s efforts to work closely together with the coconut farmers, and to ensure their active participation in the Authority’s planning activities, especially pertaining the RA 11524.

The meeting was participated by the Agriculture Secretary William Dar, DA-PCA Administrator Benjamin Madrigal, Mr. Joey Faustino of the Coconut Industry Reform Movement, Mr. Eduardo Mora of the Kilusang Magniniyog, Mr. Charlie Avila of the Confederation of Coconut Farmers Organizations of the Philippines (CCFOP-Confed), Ms. Marietta Tamondong of the Philippine Association of Small Coconut Farmers Organization (PASCFO), Mr. Leonie Montemayor of the Federation of Free Farmers, and others.

The DA-PCA is also strengthening the regional and provincial coconut industry stakeholders’ groups, to include more coconut farmer and farmer groups to ensure their active participation in the crafting of their respective coconut industry roadmaps.

DA-PCA Administrator Madrigal also reiterated his last year’s directive to the DA-PCA’s regional managers to ensure that their respective industry stakeholders’ fora are well-documented and include the monitoring of action taken regarding the issues, concerns, and opportunities raised during the fora by the participants. ###