Marcos orders PCA to craft development, rehab plan for coconut industry

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has directed the Philippine Coconut
Authority (PCA) to craft a concrete plan for the development and
rehabilitation of the coconut industry, as it intends to plant 100
million trees in the next five years.

Mr. Marcos gave the directive when he met with PCA officials at
Malacañan Palace in Manila on Wednesday, Presidential Communications
Office (PCO) Secretary Cheloy Garafil said in a statement on Thursday.

Garafil said President Marcos was briefed about the PCA’s proposed
Coconut Planting and Replanting Project that aims to reinvigorate the
coconut industry by planting 100 million trees from 2023 to 2028.

In coming up with a general plan for the coconut sector, Mr. Marcos
emphasized the importance of getting the industry leaders’ input and
implementing such initiative beyond his term as president.

“There’s a big opportunity, so let’s have a look at that so that we
can show even just for ourselves. Kailangan natin mayroon tayong plano
(We need to have a plan),” he told PCA officials, as quoted by the
PCO.

“Hindi puwedeng basta’t ito gagawa… Kailangan maliwanag ‘yung plano.
Tiyakin natin na talagang ginamit natin sa tama (It cannot just be
done… The plan needs to be clear. Let’s make sure we use it
correctly).”

Under the proposed massive coconut planting and replanting program,
the PCA targets to plant 20 million to 25 million trees annually from
2023 to 2028, or 100 million trees in total.

Mr. Marcos told the PCA not to focus on “political terms,” noting that
the project must be continued even after his presidency, if necessary.

“Why will we stop (in) 2028. Because I’m finished? Huwag nating isipin
‘yun (Let’s not think that way). What is the ideal? How many years do
we need to take to rehabilitate the coconut industry?” he said.

Garafil said the PCA is recommending the issuance of a memorandum
circular that would direct concerned national government agencies and
instrumentalities and urge local government units (LGUs) to support
the coconut planting and replanting project.

Citing a memorandum of agreement between the PCA and coconut-producing
provinces and municipalities, she said the LGUs would be encouraged to
implement