Coconut Week set Aug 30-31

Manila, Philippines -  The 26th National Coconut Week with the theme ”Masaganang Kinabukasan Mula Sa Niyugang Inalagaan,” will be held Aug. 30-31 in three focal coconut hubs at the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) central offices in Tacloban and Zamboanga City.

PCA administrator Euclides G. Forbes said this annual event underscores the role of the industry as a vital economic portal of the country, with annual export earnings reaching almost $2 billion and providing livelihood activities to at least a third of the country’s population.

Its excellent performance through the years has earned for the country the pride of being globally recognized as the coconut leader.

Forbes said that featured events will revolve around this year’s theme. Food safety which has become a trading imperative and food security will be discussed in lecture-seminars which will be complemented with actual demonstrations on processing technologies. This year’s celebration also will provide industry updates on research and coconut development.

The administrator added that   the PCA will spearhead the celebration which pays tribute to the coconut as the Tree of Life as mandated by Presidential Proclamation 142 signed by the late President Corazon C. Aquino in 1987.