After decades of fighting for their rights over the contentious Coco Levy Funds, Filipino coconut farmers have finally won the battle. This came after the enactment of Republic Act 11524, otherwise known as the “Coconut Farmers and Industry Trust Fund Act,” which led to the signing of the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan (CFIDP) by then President Rodrigo Roa Duterte.
The Province of Davao Oriental took center stage in the Regional Rollout of this historic agricultural development program earlier today, November 3, 2022, at the Davao Oriental Capitol Covered Court. Anchored to the theme CFIDP: Key to Development and Livelihood of Coconut Farmers, this is the inaugural unfurling of the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan (CFIDP) in the whole country steered by the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA). Following this, neighboring provinces in the Davao Region and the rest of the Philippines will arrange similar program launches.
The CFIDP will provide the foundation for utilizing the coco levy fund through diverse initiatives and projects. In addition to reducing poverty, the CFIDP seeks to reinvigorate and modernize the coconut industry to promote social equity. Along with raising productivity and farmers’ incomes, the CFIDP also aims to boost the coconut subsector’s contribution to overall agricultural Gross Value Added (GVA) and maintain the nation’s position as the top exporter of coconut products in the world.
PCA Administrator Benjamin R. Madrigal, Jr. presented an overview of the implementation of CFIDP in Davao Oriental. He remarked that PCA chose Davao Oriental to commence the regional rollout of the program since the province holds 40% of the coconut agricultural areas in the whole Davao Region, contributing significantly to the region being the largest coconut-producing region in the entire country.
The Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) is the government organization primarily entrusted with developing the coconut industry, which also spearheaded the establishment of the Coconut Farmers, and Industry Development Plan (CFIDP).
Madrigal further indicated that CFIDP, will be executed in collaboration with 14 other National Government Agencies through various capacity-building and development projects. These tasked agencies are as follows:
1. Cooperative Development Authority (CDA),
2. Agricultural Training Institute (ATI),
3. Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA),
4. Philippine Center for Postharvest and Development Mechanization (PHILMECH),
5. Department of Trade and Industry (DTI),
6. Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP)
7. Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP),
8. Department of Agriculture-National Dairy Authority (DA-NDA),
9. Department of Agriculture-High Value Crops Development Program (DA-HVCDP),
10. Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Animal Industry (DA-BAI),
11. Commission on Higher Education (CHED),
12. Department of Science and Technology Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry, and Natural Resources Research and Development (DOST-PCAFNRRD),
13. Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC),
14. Philippine Coconut Authority Operations, and
15. Philippine Coconut Authority- Health and Medical Program
Representatives from the said agencies were in attendance during the event and awarded their respective CFIDP programs, projects, and services to beneficiary coconut farmers of Davao Oriental.
Governor Corazon Malanyaon lauded the launch of CFIDP in her beloved province, saying, “this is the perfect time to carry out significant gains for the coconut industry and the people that depend on it.”
“This undertaking holds a special place in my heart. Since my assumption of office as the Governor of the Province of Davao Oriental, I made a strategic pronouncement to alleviate poverty through impactful programs, projects, and activities,” Governor Malanyaon said as she reiterated her determination and intention to regain the prestige of Davao Oriental’s coconut production.
With CFIDP’s assistance, the Governor hopes that more developmental efforts in the province’s coconut sector will turn into a success for the gains of the farmers. The Philippine Coconut Authority set aside P136,794,940.07 for Davao Oriental in 2022 and P92,274,292.62 for the following year in 2023. As implementing agencies conduct ongoing evaluations, these allocated funding may be increased further.
“(This) is a great milestone that our forefathers have been waiting for. More or less, four decades and finally, the Coco Levy Fund is here within grasps,” Basilio Adlawan, Jr. emotionally expressed as he represented his fellow coconut farmers in Davao Oriental who were also present at the venue.
He continued by thanking everyone who contributed to this significant victory for farmers, particularly Senator Cynthia Villar for championing and advancing Senate Bill 1396, which served as the foundation for the creation of CFIDP. “Madame Senator, you have been the fiscalizer for the farmers…ipinagtatangol n’yo po ang karapatan ng mga magsasaka at isinusulong ang kabutihan para sa lahat”, Adlawan said.
Senator Villar was slated to attend the program’s regional launch as the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food, and Agrarian Reform Chairperson. However, the unfavorable weather condition prevented her from coming.
An open forum was conducted following the program launch facilitated by the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA). During the forum, the agency further encouraged the province’s coconut farmers to get in touch with the provincial government and implementing agencies for additional assistance and guidance. By Francis Moyoko Butulan | Photos by Mark Oliver Alvite
