HINATUAN, Surigao del Sur - The Agricultural Training Institute – Regional Training Center (ATI-RTC) conducted the three-day Training on Production of Coconut Products and By-products – Batch 3 on May 18–20, 2026, at the OTAW Agricultural Farm with 25 coconut farmers from different provinces across the region.

Facilitated by Engr. Jessiel Faye G. Lee and Engr. Jona M. Sordilla, Technical Support Staff, the training aimed to strengthen participants’ knowledge and skills in coconut processing technologies, entrepreneurship, and value-adding opportunities to improve productivity and profitability in the coconut industry.

Engr. Ricarte G. Ebare, owner of OTAW Agricultural Farm, a certified Learning Site for Agriculture, served as the resource person. He discussed opportunities in coconut production, Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), and the processing of various coconut-based products. Alongside lectures, the participants engaged in hands-on activities to produce virgin coconut oil, cocotoyo, cooking oil, coco sugar, coconut flour, coconut syrup, coco aminos, and other coconut by-products, following proper GMP protocols.

Engr, Jessiel Faye G. Lee discussed the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan (CFIDP), highlighting government programs and interventions that support coconut farmers and improve their socio-economic condition.

In addition, participants learned costing and pricing techniques and prepared re-entry plans to guide the application and sharing of the technologies in their respective communities.

One participant, Bobbie Camarillo of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur, expressed appreciation for the training, saying it provided valuable knowledge on processing coconut products and praised the facilitators for their engaging and easy-to-understand discussions.