Leading the way towards a progressive and sustainable future for the coconut and palm oil industries, the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) conducted its first ‘Futures Thinking Workshop: Framing the Future for the Coconut Industry’ on April 24-25, 2024.

Anchored in 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Philippine government led by its chief, President Ferdinand E. Marcos, is steering the nation towards sustainability. In full support of ‘SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production,’ PCA as an agency under the Department of Agriculture headed by Sec. Francis Tiu Laurel Jr., is taking a proactive stance in achieving this goal as it crafts the future it plans to tread in the coming years by integrating futures thinking into its planning process.

Spearheaded by PCA Administrator and CEO, Dr. Dexter R. Buted, joined by the full force of PCA stakeholders across the country arm in arm with the arsenal of foresight and futures thinking professionals, the two-day event grounded on the agency’s initiative to ingrain in all its facets the essence of anticipatory governance through futures thinking as a tool to identify to risks and opportunities in future endeavors, and to effectively foresee, adapt to changes, challenges, advancements, and innovations.

Administrator Buted emphasized the importance of futures thinking: “At its core, futures thinking is about embracing change as an opportunity rather than a threat. It encourages us to challenge conventional wisdom, embrace diversity, and cultivate a culture of collaboration. By fostering dialogue and knowledge-sharing among stakeholders, we can co-create inclusive strategies that empower farmers, modernize the entire coconut value chain, enhance productivity, expand local and international markets of coconut and other palm oil products, and institute effective and sustainable organizational systems.”

Equipping Stakeholders for the Future

The workshop was facilitated by the foresight and futures thinking team, including Mr. Emmanuel de Guia, Resident Futurist of the Senate Committee on Sustainable Development Goals, Innovation, and Futures Thinking covered ‘Framing the Futures: Introduction to Futures Thinking,’ Ms. Jajalaine Joyce Malabanan, Course Specialist of the Institute of Open and Distance Education and Tutor of Expanded Tertiary Education Equivalency and Accreditation Program (Polytechnic University of the Philippines-Open University System), discussed ‘Megatrends, Trends, and Drivers of Change’ and ‘Compassionate Anticipatory Paradigm,’ and Prof. Michville Rivera, Dean of the College of Public Administration (Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Valenzuela), covered ‘Scenario Development’ and ‘Casual Layered Analysis’.

While the lecture part underscored the technical aspects and the pivotal role of futures thinking in organizations by bolstering its ability to create more prepared, alert, and agile governance, the workshop, on the other hand, actively engaged participants in exercises such as SWOT Analysis, Casual Layered Analysis (CLA), among others. These activities aimed at identifying challenges and threats facing their units, proposing solutions to mitigate and counter them, and developing strategic plans and innovative ideas, fostering a future-oriented mindset among stakeholders.

Paving the Way for a Sustainable Future

The event marked the beginning for the agency to start the critical initial steps in designing a strategic roadmap for the future of the coconut industry in the country. As the sole agency leading the development of the industry to its full potential while realizing the promise of alleviating the conditions and empowering the lives of coconut farmers through sustainable programs and essential services, and innovative solutions.

PCA, at the forefront of innovation and sustainability efforts in the coconut industry, recognizes the power of collaboration and forward-thinking strategies. PCA will leverage the insights from the workshop to forge partnerships, implement impactful policies, and drive positive change across the coconut and palm oil industries. By embracing a proactive approach to governance and industry development, PCA is poised to lead the way toward a brighter and more sustainable future, ensuring the prosperity of coconut farmers and the preservation of the environment for generations to come.