In partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry(DTI)-Regional Office MIMAROPA and in close coordination with the Philippine Coconut Industry (PCA), the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) in MIMAROPA conducted the two-day Coco Colloquium and Techno Forum at Bulwagan Hall, Provincial Capitol, Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro on September 12, 2024.
This activity was participated by coconut farmers and representatives from the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan (CFIDP) implementing agencies, micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs),cooperatives, the Provincial Local Government Unit, and Municipal Local Government Units from Oriental Mindoro.
Among the esteemed guests were DTI Regional Director Rodolfo Mariposque, Provincial Agriculturist Christine M. Pine, and ATI-MIMAROPA Assistant Center Director Norberto C. Maur, who all shared their messages of hope for the coconut industry to rise and help coconut farmers improve their practices and uplift their lives.
Aside from the distribution of Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) materials and the display of champion coconut products from some cooperatives, the participants also informed about the 1st Semester Physical Accomplishments and 2nd Semester targets of the CFIDP Implementing agencies, the Department of Agriculture, Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization, and the National Dairy Authority. Moreover, the event also featured some of CFIDP's success stories, including Mr. Elmer Mabello’s innovative Coco-Ong and Mr. Paul Bañas's story of Sinag Coffee Roastery.
The participants also enjoyed a field visit to the Mindoro Dairy Cooperative (MIDACO), Brgy. Salcedo, Bansud, Oriental Mindoro, where they had the opportunity to learn its best practices, challenges, and journey to success.
A total of 127 participants attended the said activity.
