QUEZON CITY, Metro Manila – The Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) spearheaded the conduct of the first National Inter-Agency Technical Committee (NIATC) meeting on 31 May 2023 at the Sequoia Hotel, Quezon City. The NIATC meeting aims to review progress, coordinate implementation, and craft measures to improve the implementation of the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan (CFIDP).

Among the attendees were the committee members and representatives of the fifteen (15) implementing agencies (IAs) of the Coconut Farmers and Industry Trust Fund (CFITF) Act. Representatives from Department of Budget and Management (DBM), Bureau of Treasury (BTr), and Commission on Audit (COA) have also attended to provide guidance on the utilization of the Trust Fund.

The offices of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Fisheries, and Agrarian Reform (CAFAR) and the House Committee on Agriculture and Food were also invited to provide thrusts and directions on the implementation of the CFITF Act.

In his welcoming message, PCA Administrator Bernie F. Cruz reiterated the importance of continuous convergence and coordination among and between agencies to ensure that the Trust Fund will be utilized properly and services will be delivered to the coconut farmers in the most efficient and effective way.

On the other hand, the message of Cong. Wilfrido Mark M. Enverga, Chair of House Committee on Agriculture and Food, was read by his representative Ms. Edith M. Haway. “I know that we will look beyond and up close, and really see the issues of the industry to be able to come up with recommendations to effectively and efficiently implement the programs and projects. Coconut is still recognized as one of the most important crops in the Philippines. Let us all capitalize on this potential.”

Senator Cynthia A. Villar, Chair of the Senate CAFAR and main author of the CFITF Act, sent her guidance through a video message wherein she emphasized the importance of the roles of the IAs in addressing the challenges faced by the coconut industry and in improving the well-being of the smallholder coconut farmers.

The meeting was facilitated by PCA Deputy Administrator Roel M. Rosales as the committee chair. The presentations from the committee members commenced with an overview of the 2022 implementation accomplishments by the Program Management Office (PMO). Issues such as low productivity, pest and disease management, post-harvest facilities, value-chain enhancement, and coconut farmer registry were extensively discussed by the IAs through the presentations of their 2023 1st quarter accomplishments. The committee discussion also focused on addressing the socioeconomic welfare of coconut farmers, ensuring fair prices, and promoting inclusive growth within the industry.

Moreover, several proposals from the office of Cong. Enverga and the rest of the committee members were put forward to accelerate the growth of the coconut sector. These include strategies for the implementation of research and development initiatives on coconut hybridization, capacity building for coconut farmers, access to credit facilities, and the establishment of sustainable coconut farming practices.

The committee meeting concluded with a consensus on the key strategies to be included in the next quarters of CFIDP implementation to encompass a multi-faceted approach, financial assistance, infrastructure development, and support for value-adding activities.

The outcome of the NIATC meeting is set to shape the future trajectory of the CFIDP implementation until the end of 2023. The concerted efforts of all IAs and partner stakeholders, from the legislative and Trust Fund Management Committee (TFMC), signal a promising outlook, as the country strives to unlock the full potential of its coconut resources and uplift the livelihoods of smallholder coconut farmers across the country.

Call for Convergence. PCA Administrator Bernie F. Cruz delivered his welcoming message where he emphasized the importance of convergence and collaboration toward achieving the goals of the CFITF Act.

Efficient and Effective Services. Through his representative, Cong. Enverga said that his hopes are high in delivering efficient and effective services to the coconut farmers as they are the reason why CFIFT Act was enacted into a law.

Harmonized implementation. The NIATC meeting has provided a venue for the IAs to harmonize the programs, projects, and services under CFIDP and realize their interdependencies in implementing these interventions.