MANILA, (PIA) -- President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Thursday said the government will tap new technology to ensure that the coconut industry is resilient that will benefit the Philippine economy.

“Together, we will usher in a new era of progress by leveraging the power of the coconut to build a better, self-sufficient, and prosperous country,” Pres. Marcos said when he graced the 50th Anniversary of the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) in Pasay City.

The Chief Executive said the PCA must continue to intensify its efforts to modernize the coconut industry and improve the lives of coconut farmers and their families. He also urged the agency to develop new products from coconut and expand its distribution to new markets.

“It is important that we continue to develop  and improve these products so that we can find new uses and expand its distribution to new markets,” he said.

“I thus encourage the PCA to continue to uplift the lives of our coconut farmers and empower them to improve their conditions, break free from the chains of poverty, and dream bigger for themselves and for their loved ones,” he added.

Pres. Marcos said the PCA must intensify the implementation of its Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan to accelerate the modernization. 

As an agricultural nation, the Philippines is a major exporter of coconut oil and other products such as copra meal and desiccated coconut. 

The President, meanwhile, lauded the PCA and its fifty-strong years of developing a “united, efficient, and globally competitive coconut industry.”

He also recognized the hard work of the men and women of the PCA who have helped shape policies and programs that have benefited coconut farmers.

“With fifty years of dedicated work and with a view to advance the coconut industry, it is worth recognizing the hard work of the men and women of the PCA who have helped shape policies,” he said.

It can be recalled that the PCA, the sole government agency tasked with developing the coconut industry to its full potential, was established in 1973 by virtue of Presidential Decree No. 232. 

The PCA has a mandate to provide services, promote research and development, and distribute resources to empower coconut farmers across the country.

It has been instrumental in the growth of the coconut industry. In 2021, the industry generated an estimated P130 billion in revenue. The industry also provides employment to over 3 million Filipinos.

The agency has also been committed to helping coconut farmers improve their lives. It has implemented a number of programs and initiatives to support coconut farmers, including providing access to credit, training, and market linkages.

The PCA is also working to develop new products from coconut and expand its distribution to new markets. The agency believes that by developing new products and expanding its market reach, it can help to increase the income of coconut farmers and improve their quality of life. (PIA-NCR)