Atty. Lucius Jun-Jun G. Malsi, Deputy Administrator for Administrative and Finance Branch, welcomes the Japanese students to orientation at PCA, as part of their study tour (Photo courtesy of the National Youth Commission)

QUEZON CITY, PHILIPPINES - The Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), in support of the National Youth Commission (NYC), welcomed a group of Japanese students and hosted an orientation on the Philippine coconut industry last 01 March 2023.

The visit is a part of the study tour under NYC’s cultural exchange program and Japan East Asia Network of Exchange Students and Youths (JENEYSYS) which featured the Philippine coconut sector as a heritage industry. As the agency in-charge in promoting the sustainable development of the coconut industry, PCA conducted an orientation activity, led by Atty. Lucius Jun-Jun G. Malsi, Deputy Administrator for the Administrative and Finance Branch (AFB) and PCA Officer-in-Charge at the time of the visit.

Ms. Luz Brenda P. Balibrea, Division Chief of the Trade Information and Relations Division (TIRD) presents the history, current state, and future of the Philippine coconut industry. (Photo courtesy of National Youth Commission)

The orientation program included a presentation on the Philippine Coconut Industry Situationer by the Trade Information and Relations Division (TIRD) Division Chief, Ms. Luz Brenda P. Balibrea, Question and Answer Portion, and a tour of the PCA Product Showroom, led by the Market Research and Promotions Division (MRPD). During the visit at the product showroom, students saw firsthand various coconut products, which ranged from food products such as virgin coconut oil, coconut sugar, coconut milk, coconut juice, coconut flour, etc., to non-food products such as coconut-based handicrafts, coconets, and coconut soap, among others. The delegates also tasted food products such as coconut water, coconut chips, and coconut jam.

Students sampling coconut products prepared by the Market Research and Promotions Division (MRPD) (Photo courtesy of the National Youth Commission)

The activity was co-organized by the Research and Development Branch (RDB), Operations Department (OD), Trade and Market Development Department (TMDD), and the Laboratory Services Division (LSD) of PCA, and was attended by three representatives from the NYC, led by Executive Director and COO, Ms. Leah Villalon, nine Japanese exchange students, and representatives from the Japan International Cooperation Center (JICE).

Ms. Leah Villalon, Executive Director and COO of NYC; Ms. Rosella B. Villaruel, Department Manager of PCA-TMDD; Ms. Luz Brenda P. Balibrea, Division Chief of PCA-TIRD, Ms. Cristabeth Jacinta Madrigal, Chief of NYC- Social Marketing Division; and the team and exchange students under JENEYSYS pose for a picture at the PCA Product Show Room. (Photo Courtesy of National Youth Commission)