1. Apo View Hotel, Davao City, February 13-14, 2009
Multi-Sectoral Consultation for GFC Affected Workers in Selected Agri-Based Industries
Apo View Hotel, Davao City, February 13-14, 2009

2. COCONUT INDUSTRY
Workshop Output

3. Profile Area planted to coconut recorded an increase of 0.64% which
represents 27% of the total agricultural land in the country.
68 out of 79 provinces in the country are coconut areas of
which there are 1,195 coconut municipalities.
There are about 3.64 million coconut farmers and farm
workers all over the country.
Reports show that about 5,520 are in coconut oil processing
and desiccated coconut processing in region 11 alone.

4. Issues
and
Concerns

5. 1 Issue Recommendations Responsible Agencies
Low price of copra (from as high as P35/kilo down to P16.50/kilo) resulting to diminished income
Recommendations
Enforcement of quality based pricing system
Government to take out the 2% VAT (from the traders group)
Multi-cropping
Immediate release and final recovery of the coconut levy fund
Livelihood intervention to workers and/or dependents
Responsible Agencies
PCA, DA, BIR, DTI, LGU, PICOPA, United Coconut Association
of the Philippines (UCAP)

6. 2 Issue Recommendation Responsible Agencies
Expensive farm production inputs
Recommendation
Promotion and adoption of organic farming
Responsible Agencies
DOLE, DA, DOST

7. 3 Issue Recommendations Responsible Agencies
Low production due to senile trees
Recommendations
Establishment of coconut nursery
Massive replanting and replacement of trees
Massive info dissemination about Bio-Diesel Act
Massive replanting of coconut trees thru organic fertilization prog.
Responsible Agencies
PCA, CFOs, LGUs, NGOs, oil millers, CIIF

8. 4 Issue Recommendations Responsible Agencies Market driven industry
- no price control/unstable price of coconut products
- decrease in demand of coconut products as much as 20%
Recommendations
Promotion of non-traditional coconut products
(product diversification/innovation)
Intensification of product development
Responsible Agencies
DTI, DOST, PCA

9. 5 Issue Recommendations Responsible Agencies
Lack of infrastructure
- post harvest facilities
- farm-to-market road
Recommendations
Rehabilitation of farm-to-market roads
Fund assistance for production of organic fertilizer using
coco peat as medium
Fund assistance for copra dryers
Responsible Agencies
LGU, DPWH, Office of the Representatives/Senate, Bureau of Postharvest Research and Extension

10. 6 Issue Recommendations Responsible Agencies
Infestation of pests and diseases
(Brontispa longissima)
Recommendations
Enforcement of no permit no transport policy by Brontispa
Task Force by the LGU
RDC intervention
Encouragement of coconut farmers’ participation in
information drive for early detection of the pest
Responsible Agencies
PCA, LGU, DA, CFOs, PNP, BPI

11. 7 Issue Recommendations Responsible Agencies
Stiff market competition with Sri Lanka and Indonesia
Recommendations
Maintain good quality of desiccated coconut
Organic Farming Practices
Responsible Agencies
Coconut farmer, DTI, Coco processors

12. 8 Issue Recommendations Responsible Agencies
Low availment /participation of coconut farmers to the National Coconut Productivity Program (Participatory Coconut Planting Program)
Recommendations
Massive info dissemination
Clear budget allocation per region and per province
PCA and CIIF (Coconut Industry Investment Fund) to
sustain program implementation
Responsible Agencies
PCA, LGU, CIIF

13. 9 Issue Recommendation Responsible Agencies
Issuance of moratorium (RA 8048 Coconut Preservation Act of 1995)
- No cutting of coconut trees except for personal
use or not to exceed 5 trees
Recommendation
Lifting of moratorium to allow selected cutting of senile trees
Responsible Agencies
PNP, LGU

14. 10 Issue Recommendation Responsible Agencies
High farm labor cost (informal sector)
Recommendation
DOLE to study contracting arrangements in farm labor
Responsible Agencies
DOLE, RTWPB, PCA

15. 11 Issue Recommendation Responsible Agencies
Limited market for non-traditional products
Recommendation
Market linkage assistance by PCA and DTI
Responsible Agencies
PCA, DTI

16. Desiccated Coconut/Oil Millers
ISSUES/CONCERNS
RECOMMENDATIONS
RESPONSIBLE AGENCIES
1. Procurement of raw
materials is under loan
through local banks
with high interest rate
and longer return of
investment (ROI)
Provision of special loan windows by government and GFIs to oil millers, processors, producers, farmers, dealers
UCPB
CIIF
LBP
DBP
Quedancor
2. Decline in demand in
the export market
Increase blending rate from the current 1% for the biodiesel
Ucap
DOE
3. Labor Dispute/
CBA deadlock
Quick and speedy resolution of cases filed in DOLE
DOLE
4. Operating below
capacity rate plants
Intensify/massive planting and fertilization of coconut trees
PCA to regulate oil millers
PCA
Oil millers

17. Thank you