Quezon City—The Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) convened its Yearend Assessment and Planning Workshop, bringing together key leaders and officers to evaluate the agency’s 2024 performance and solidify strategies for the coming year. The event marks another step in aligning the agency’s operational plans with its overarching vision for the coconut industry.

This two-part initiative began with a Pre-Planning Workshop on November 20-21 at the PCA Agrohub Building. The pre-planning stage focused on critical areas such as reviewing PCA’s 5-Year Strategic Plan, cascading the Annual Operational Plan (AOP) for 2025-2026, updating the PCA Risk Register, and ensuring effective implementation of the PCA Monitoring and Evaluation System. Insights from this initial phase laid the groundwork for the main event in December.

Administrator and CEO Dr. Dexter R. Buted opened the workshop, reflecting on his leadership journey since assuming office in 2024. “This year has been a period of growth and learning,” said Dr. Buted. “We are ushering in a new era for the Philippine Coconut Authority – the quality era. The ISO 9001:2015 certification is already within our reach, and we will cascade this initiative nationwide in 2025.”

The PCA chief also highlighted the importance of setting clear, achievable goals aligned with PCA’s corporate vision. He urged participants to foster innovation, enhance teamwork, and refine strategies to propel the agency toward operational excellence.

The workshop was attended by the top management, including Regional Managers, technical officers, and other key personnel from the central and regional offices. During the two-day session, the agency assessed its 2024 programs, projects, and activities, extracting key lessons learned to refine its approach for the upcoming year.

The event also highlighted PCA’s strides toward institutionalizing quality management processes under the ISO 9001:2015 framework. Plans for 2025 include expanding these initiatives and pursuing the prestigious Malcolm Baldrige framework for the Philippine Quality Award.

One of the critical outputs of the workshop was the integration of findings from the Pre-Planning Workshop into the final Annual Operational Plan for 2025-2026. This ensures that all PCA units are aligned with the agency’s strategic objectives, enhancing operational efficiency and fostering a unified approach to service delivery.

The workshop concluded with a collective commitment to strengthening communication, teamwork, and innovation within the agency. As Dr. Buted remarked, “Let’s turn this reflection into actionable plans that propel us into a successful year ahead.”

The PCA Yearend Assessment and Planning Workshop underscores the agency’s dedication to continuous improvement and its unwavering commitment to the development of the Philippine coconut industry, and supporting millions of Filipino coconut farmers.