BUTUAN CITY – Learning, collaboration, and innovation took center stage during the 2026 Coconut Festival: Balangay Edition, held at the North Atrium of Robinsons Place Butuan on May 18-24, 2026. The weeklong event brought together coconut farmers’ organizations, cooperatives, entrepreneurs, government agencies, and industry stakeholders from across Caraga to showcase products, technologies, and opportunities within the region’s coconut sector.
Carrying the theme “Niyog 360: One Coconut, Endless Opportunities,” the festival served as a platform to highlight the growing potential of coconut-based enterprises while strengthening public awareness of programs and services under the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan (CFIDP). The event was spearheaded by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)-Caraga in partnership with the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA), Agricultural Training Institute – Regional Training Center (ATI-RTC) XIII, Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), and the Department of Agriculture (DA).
Anchored on Republic Act No. 11524, otherwise known as the Coconut Farmers and Industry Trust Fund Act, the festival underscored ongoing efforts to modernize the coconut industry, create value-adding opportunities, improve farmers’ incomes, and contribute to poverty reduction in coconut-growing communities.
Exhibits featured a diverse range of coconut-based products from cooperatives, farmer organizations, and entrepreneurs throughout the region, demonstrating how innovation and enterprise development continue to expand market opportunities for coconut farmers. The displays showcased the versatility of coconut as a resource and highlighted the industry's contribution to local economic growth and livelihood generation.
The ATI-RTC XIII highlighted its continuing efforts to bring relevant and accessible learning interventions closer to coconut farmers across the region. Festival-goers were introduced to various training programs, extension services, and capacity-building initiatives designed to strengthen technical knowledge, entrepreneurial skills, and enterprise development among coconut stakeholders.
In her message, OIC-Center Director Noemi Beth G. Macario, CESE, emphasized the agency’s commitment to expanding access to learning opportunities for coconut farmers and stakeholders. "ATI, as the training arm of the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan, remains steadfast in providing training programs and learning interventions that help improve the knowledge and skills of coconut farmers and other stakeholders in the coconut industry," Macario said.
She further encouraged farmers who have not yet benefited from CFIDP programs and services to actively participate in ATI’s training activities and take advantage of the opportunities available through the program.
Adding a lively and engaging dimension to the celebration was the appearance of ATI Gurl, ATI-RTC XIII’s mascot, who interacted with visitors, exhibitors, and festival participants. Through these engagements, the agency promoted its programs and services while encouraging meaningful conversations about agricultural development, lifelong learning, and the various opportunities available to coconut farmers under the CFIDP.
The festival also highlighted the collective efforts of government agencies, private sector partners, farmer organizations, and coconut-based MSMEs in advancing the goals of the CFIDP. By bringing together key players in the industry, the event showcased how collaboration can create pathways for innovation, enterprise development, and market expansion throughout the coconut value chain.
In a statement, DTI-Caraga Regional Director Gay Tidalgo emphasized that the festival seeks to empower coconut farmers not only as producers but also as entrepreneurs capable of creating higher-value products and building sustainable livelihoods. This vision reflects the broader goals of the CFIDP to transform the coconut industry into a more competitive, resilient, and inclusive sector that benefits farming communities across the region.
