Strengthened Collaboration. The first step for a strengthened cooperation among the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), Department of Agriculture (DA), and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), focusing on the directions and strategies discussed for the development of the country’s coconut industry.

QUEZON CITY, PHILIPPINES – The Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) Administrator Bernie F. Cruz, together with the Deputy Administrator for Operations Branch, DA Roel Rosales, and concerned officers and staff of the Authority, met with the members of the Foreign Agriculture Service Corps (FASC) of the Department of Agriculture (DA) in a roundtable consultation meeting last 06 March 2023 to discuss the current status and market opportunities of the Philippine coconut industry in the international market.

Roundtable Discussion/Consultation

Agricultural Counsellors and Attachés presented the updates on market trends and opportunities for coconut, as well as the current international trade policies and market-regulations relevant to the coconut industry. They also recommended possible development collaborations and product promotions in the international market. Following this, the DTI-EMB, represented by Assistant Director Jhino B. Ilano, discussed the plans and activities involving the industry under the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan (CFIDP) Market Research and Promotions Component for 2023 onwards.

The Market Research and Promotions Division (MRPD) of the Trade and Market Development Department (TMDD) provided additional inputs on various coconut products with description and commodity codes while the PCA Trade Information and Relations Division (TIRD) presented a brief update on the current status and trade performance of the Philippine coconut industry.

The development of new coconut-based products, establishment of packaged technology for investment opportunities, expansion of market access to different international markets, promotion of non-traditional products, investment on product innovation and packaging technology, and cooperation in addressing the pressing issues affecting the coconut industry were among the possible collaborations and strategies discussed.

The roundtable consultation was organized by the Trade and Market Development Department (TMDD). Present during the meeting were Agricultural Counsellors for China, Ms. Ana Gracia Maria Abejuela, and for the US and the Americas, Mr. Lupiño J. Lazaro, Jr.; and Agricultural Attachés for International Organizations, Dr. Josyline C. Javelosa; for Japan, Mr. Jose Laquian; for South Korea, Ms. Maria Alilia Maghirang; for the Middle East, Ms. Nolet Fulgencio; for ASEAN Affairs, Ms. Annalyn L. Lopez; for the European Union, Ms. Kristine Jeanne Yap; and for the World Trade Organization, Mr. Marlito Cabuños. Also in attendance were representatives from the DA-International Affairs Division (IAD), DA-Project Development Service, Department of Trade and Industry-Export Marketing Bureau (DTI-EMB), and DTI-Bureau of Small and Medium Enterprise Development (BSMED). Officers and personnel from the PCA Corporate Planning Service, Operations Department, Laboratory Services Division, and PCA Regional Offices also attended.

The meeting was conducted in hybrid modality where physical attendees gathered at the Executive Lounge of the PCA Main Building, Quezon City, while online participants attended through the Zoom platform.

Roundtable Consultation. The Agricultural Counsellors and Agricultural Attachés presenting the current market opportunities, achievements and undertakings of their respective posts in relation to the Philippine coconut industry.

Joint Site Visits to Coconut-based Plants

Prior to the consultation meeting, PCA also collaborated with the DA regarding the orientation of the Agricultural Counsellors and Attachés on the different coconut processing technologies in Davao last 22-24 February 2023. It was intended to orient agricultural envoys on the range of coconut products and their processing facilities for better appreciation and understanding of the current state of the industry viz-a-viz the required compliance to international standards, market-required certifications and trade-related regulations within their respective purview.

The joint site visits were conducted by personnel from the PCA TMDD and Region XI together with the Agricultural Counsellors and Attachés and representatives from the DA Region XI and DA-IAD.

Joint Site Visit. Representatives from PCA and DA-FASC during their joint site visit in one of the coconut-based processing plants in Davao.

The Agricultural envoys visited the following sites: (1) Davao Thermo Biotech Corp., a company that processes composts/biodegradables into natural fertilizer; (2) Profood International Corporation, one of the country’s biggest manufacturing enterprises, which includes several coconut products (e.g., coconut meat, juice, and concentrate); (3) the Adaptation and Mitigation Initiatives in Agriculture (AMIA) Climate Village in Barangay Jose Rizal, Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur; (4) BF Industries Inc., a coconut shell-based charcoal, briquettes and activated carbon manufacturing plant; (5) Pontmain Resources, Inc., a processing plant for coir and allied products; (6) Franklin Baker Company of the Philippines, one of the country’s biggest integrated coconut food manufacturing plant, mainly desiccated coconut; and (7) Agrisolutions, Inc, which processes coconut husk as a growing medium.

Courtesy Meeting at DA RXI. DA RXI Regional Executive Director Abel James Monteagudo, PCA RXI Regional Regional Manager Juvy Alayon, and representatives from the DA Regional Office XI, DA-FASC, PCA-TMDD, and PCA Regional Office XI at the DA Region XI office for a meeting on the agricultural industry of the region.

While in Davao Region, the Agricultural Counsellors and Attachés likewise paid a courtesy call to DA Regional Office XI Regional Executive Director (RED), Mr. Abel James Monteagudo, and PCA RXI Regional Manager Juvy Alayon, which segued to the discussion of several trade issues.