SAN JOSE, Province of Dinagat Islands – More than 40 coconut farmers from the municipalities of San Jose, Tubajon, Dinagat, Basilisa, Cagdianao, and Libjo in the province of Dinagat Islands attended the Coconut Farmers & Industry Development Plan (CFIDP) Information Caravan held on October 4, 2022 at Langit Pension House.   

During his message, Joel Oclarit, Regional Manager of Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), gave a brief background of the history of Coco Levy fund which aims to help the coconut farmers accelerate the growth and the development of the coconut industry, and alleviate the farmers out of poverty. Now that the CFIDP is being implemented, he encouraged the participants to join and make use of the opportunity laid out to them.

Participants learned about the Republic Act (RA) 11524 or the CFIDP Act and its components which are the following: social protection initiatives, coconut farmers’ organization and development, hybridization, community-based farm enterprise development, integrated coconut processing, research projects, and other support services.

The CFIDP is implemented by various agencies of the PCA, Agricultural Training Institute (ATI), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC), Cooperative Development Authority (CDA), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), PCAARRD-DOST, Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI), National Dairy Authority (NDA), Philippine Center for Post Harvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP), and Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP).

"The government is here for our coconut farmers. Together with the agencies that are here with us, the PCA and the Department of Agriculture, programs will be implemented in answer to your pleas. We will help each other, " said Governor Nilo Demerey Jr.