Expanding versatility of coconut brightens industry landscape
Roxas City -- "A lot of opportunities are unfolding in the coconut industry."
This was the observation of Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) -- Provincial Manager Jeffrey delos Reyes in time with the 20th Coconut Week celebration from August 24 to 30 this year.
The week-long celebration will be highlighted by the project launching of the Philippines Australia Community Assistance Program (PACAP) aid to the Capiz Small Coconut Farmers Marketing Cooperative on Aug. 29 at the oil mill and refinery plant at Barangay Ondoy in Ivisan town.
PACAP Area Manager for Visayas Melissa Morales is expected to grace the activity which will be attended by an estimated 100 farmer-leaders from various coconut farmer associations provincewide.
Also, Capiz Gov. Vicente Bermejo, Ivisan town mayor Noel Yap and PCA Regional Manager Joey Cruz are expected to attend the half-day activity.
The P1.9 million PACAP aid will be utilized for the village level integrated coconut processing project.
"The activity will be also an opportunity to appraise our farmer-members of the status of the project extended by PACAP and recognize industry partners on their support to Republic Act 8048 or the Coconut Preservation Act of 1995," added delos Reyes.
CASCOFAMCO revived the milling and refining operations at the oil mill last July and has been producing VCO, crude coco oil for animal feeds, and refined cooking oil.
PCA Administrator Oscar G. Garin revealed that the country's export earnings from coconut products for the first half of 2006 stood pat at $ 457.57 million dollars, characterizing this year's performance as mainly buoyed up by the greater volume of coconut oil exported based on a news release posted on the PCA official website.
Various coconut food and non-food products and by-products from all over the country will be displayed at the 5th Coco Festival Trade Fair and Exhibit on August 24 to 27 at the Mega Trade Hall II, Megamall, Mandaluyong City according to the on-line publication.
(PIA)