"𝑊𝑒 𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑛𝑜𝑡 𝑠𝑒𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑑𝑠, 𝑏𝑢𝑡 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑎 𝑚𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡𝑦 𝑟𝑜𝑝𝑒, 𝑤𝑜𝑣𝑒𝑛 𝑡𝑜𝑔𝑒𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝑏𝑦 𝑎𝑛 𝑢𝑛𝑤𝑎𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑚𝑖𝑡𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡—𝑎 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑚𝑖𝑡𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑡𝑜 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑒𝑛𝑑𝑢𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑙𝑒𝑔𝑎𝑐𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑃ℎ𝑖𝑙𝑖𝑝𝑝𝑖𝑛𝑒 𝑐𝑜𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑢𝑡,” echoed PCA Administrator & CEO Dr. Dexter R. Buted, striking a chord during the 𝗦𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗖𝗼𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘂𝘁 𝗙𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗜𝗻𝗰. (𝗦𝗖𝗙𝗜) 𝟳𝘁𝗵 𝗔𝗻𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 in Dumaguete City on August 23-25, 2024.

As the Philippine Coconut Authority reaffirmed its commitment to the future of the coconut industry, the three-day event convened nearly 700 participants, including the PCA delegation supported by Regional Manager Brenda P. Trasmonte (Region VII), coconut farmer leaders arm in arm municipal and local governmemnt heads represented by Negros Oriental Governoer Manuel “Chaco” L. Sagarbarria, Negros Oriental 2nd District Represantative Hon. Cogressman Manuel “Chiquiting” T. Sagarbarria, PFEM-COCOFED scholar alumni, and representatives from various government implementing agencies under the CFIDP.

SCFI, a national organization of scholar-alumni under the auspices of then-President Ferdinand E. Marcos (PFEM), hosted the convention themed "𝘾𝙊𝘾𝙊𝙣𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙜𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙎𝙩𝙖𝙠𝙚𝙝𝙤𝙡𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙏𝙤𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙙𝙨 𝙎𝙪𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙗𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙋𝙝𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙥𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙚 𝘾𝙤𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙪𝙩 𝙄𝙣𝙙𝙪𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙮," served as a platform for dialogue, collaboration, and innovation, focusing on value-adding activities, reskilling and upskilling farmers, and fostering dialogue between farmers and CFIDP implementing agencies.

In his keynote address, Administrator Buted emphasized the significance of the convention as a beacon of hope for the Philippine coconut industry. "𝑇ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑔𝑎𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑜𝑓 𝑏𝑟𝑖𝑙𝑙𝑖𝑎𝑛𝑡 𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑠 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑑𝑒𝑑𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑑 ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑡𝑠 𝑠𝑖𝑔𝑛𝑖𝑓𝑖𝑒𝑠 𝑎 𝑏𝑒𝑎𝑐𝑜𝑛 𝑜𝑓 ℎ𝑜𝑝𝑒 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑃ℎ𝑖𝑙𝑖𝑝𝑝𝑖𝑛𝑒 𝑐𝑜𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑢𝑡 𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑢𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑦. 𝑊𝑒 𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑒𝑑 ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑎 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑚𝑜𝑛 𝑝𝑢𝑟𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑒—𝑡𝑜 𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑔𝑒 𝑎 𝑠𝑢𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒 𝑓𝑢𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑏𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑣𝑒𝑑 𝑐𝑜𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑢𝑡 𝑓𝑎𝑟𝑚𝑒𝑟𝑠 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑡𝑜 𝑢𝑝𝑙𝑖𝑓𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑦 𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑎𝑔𝑟𝑖𝑐𝑢𝑙𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑎𝑙 ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑎𝑔𝑒," he stated, echoing the sentiments of the participants.

The PCA's Enhanced 5-Year Strategic Development Plan, which was discussed during the convention, aims to ensure the coconut industry's survival and prosperity. The strategic plan is anchored on five key strategic goals: productivity enhancement, farmers' empowerment, market development, research and development, and effective and sustainable organizational systems. Key strategies include a massive coconut planting initiative, targeting the planting of 100 million trees by 2028, and a comprehensive Coconut Fertilization Program aimed at rehabilitating fruit-bearing palms and boosting productivity. These initiatives are projected to significantly increase nut production, positioning the Philippines as the number one coconut-producing country by 2028.

Among the highlights of the PCA chief’s address revolved on the Autority’s efforts in agro-enterprise development to enhance the value of coconut products, as well as its collaboration with TESDA and ATI to professionalize coconut farming. He also emphasized the agency's commitment to social protection for coconut farmers, including healthcare and medical assistance, with plans to establish partnerships with hospitals in coconut-growing regions and conduct medical missions in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas.

The convention also provided a platform for PFEM-COCOFED scholars, coconut farmers, and government agencies to engage in meaningful dialogues, share insights, and explore new technologies to enhance productivity and income. The PCA's participation in this convention underscores its dedication to empowering coconut farmers and strengthening the collaboration between stakeholders in the coconut industry.

CFIDP IAs’ booths were also featured, showcasing various innovations and provided a platform for PFEM-COCOFED scholars, coconut farmers, and government agencies to engage in meaningful dialogues, share insights, and explore new technologies aimed at boosting productivity and income.

As the convention concluded, it left a lasting impact on all participants, reinforcing the collective resolve to build a sustainable and thriving Philippine coconut industry. The PCA's ongoing support for SCFI and the entire coconut sector highlights its pivotal role in ensuring the industry's future for generations to come.

With PCA leading the charge, its active involvement underscores its resolute commitment to the SCFI, scholars, and the entire coconut industry. As the agency persistently champions the cause of coconut farmers and drives transformative initiatives, it solidifies the trajectory of the Philippine coconut industry toward a future of sustainable development and prosperity.