Marcos Jr. wants coconut industry modernization fast-tracked

MANILA, Philippines — President Marcos has directed the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) to fast-track the coconut industry’s modernization for the Philippines to become a major coconut exporter.

“The PCA must intensify the implementation of the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan to accelerate the modernization of the coconut industry and to improve the lives of our coconut farmers and their families,” Marcos said yesterday in Pasay City during the 50th anniversary of the PCA.

Marcos, concurrently the agriculture secretary, has been urged by farmers’ groups to ensure the coco levy fund would be used to support the industry.

The coco levy fund, at the time of the President’s dictator father, was collected from coconut farmers to supposedly fund programs.

Lawsuits were filed claiming the fund was used to support the businesses of the late Marcos cronies.

In a statement, the PCA said the coconut industry remains to be the Philippines’ top dollar-earning export.

Coconut oil ($1.431 billion), desiccated coconut ($396 million) and copra oil cake ($67.54 million) ranked first, fourth and tenth, respectively in 2021.

Coconut production rose by 1.6 percent, from 3.20 million metric tons in the first quarter of 2022 to 3.26 million metric tons in the first quarter of 2023.

Coconut exports declined by more than half, from $1.04 billion in January to April 2022 to $490.16 million in the same period this year, according to the Presidential Communications Office.