Farmers from various barangays in Banga and Surallah enhanced their knowledge and skills during the three-day Training on Virgin Coconut Oil (VCO) Production and Management, held from November 25 to 27, 2024, at Makarios Farm in Barangay Lambontong, Surallah, South Cotabato.

The program, implemented under the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan (CFIDP) by ATI-RTC XII, aimed to promote sustainable practices and value-adding initiatives in coconut farming. Ms. Alyssa Marie Ilustrisimo, CFIDP XII Technical Staff, opened the training by highlighting the significance of adopting innovative methods to improve livelihoods.

Dennis C. Rubiato, owner of Makarios Food Processing Farm, served as the resource speaker and led discussions on the benefits of Virgin Coconut Oil, Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), sanitation, quality standards, and the detailed VCO production process. Hands-on activities dominated the second and third days, allowing participants to apply their learnings by producing VCO under expert guidance.

The training concluded with participants sharing their insights and receiving certificates of completion, equipping them with practical knowledge to enhance their coconut-based enterprises and contribute to the industry's development.