SUCs to supply seedlings for coco replanting program

MANILA, Philippines - Eleven state universities and colleges (SUCs) have agreed to provide the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) seedlings for its coconut replanting program from 2013.

The SUCs include Cagayan State University which agreed to supply the PCA 300,000 coconut seedlings, Romblon State University with 15,000, Ifugao State University with 100,000, Southern Luzon State University with 200,000, Sindangan National Agricultural School with 50,000, Bicol University with 60,000, Jose Rizal Memorial State University with 50,000.

Each coconut seedling cost between P26 to P27.

PCA said a school that sells 100,000 seedlings may earn P1.5 million pesos every six months, part of which may be used to put up scholarships for poor but deserving students.

“Our only request to these schools is to use part of the proceeds for scholarships of poor but deserving students to avoid another Kristel Tejada tragedy,” said PCA administrator Euclides G. Forbes, refering to a student of University of the Philippines Manila who commited suicide because she was not able to pay her tuition.

“By purchasing from state schools, most of which raise income independently to support their small budgets, we also make our purchase corruption free as both of us have auditors and official receipts, “Forbes added.

Under a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), with the PCA the SUCs committed to make their campuses as frontline nurseries and to deliver good quality seedlings to be purchased by PCA.

PCA would provide technical assistance on seednut selection, establishment and maintenance of the coconut nurseries.

PCA may start buying coconut seedlings from the participating SUCs this month.