Championing the welfare of Filipino coconut farmers, the House of Representatives, through the Committee on Agriculture and Food chaired by Quezon 1st District Representative Mark Enverga met with government agencies to ensure the proper implementation of Republic Act 11524, also known as the “Coconut Farmers and Industry Trust Fund Act.”
Enverga stressed that the welfare of coconut farmers is promoted through the Coconut Levy Fund, and the expeditious delivery of benefits and services.
The veteran legislator called on the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) to keep its registry of farmers up-to-date.
“’Pag may problema ‘yong registry natin, may problema ‘yong implementation ng batas.”
“’Pag may problema ‘yong registry natin, may problema ‘yong implementation ng batas,” the seasoned lawmaker stressed.
PCA Administrator Bernie Ferrer Cruz reported that 1.7 million farmers have already been validated, and 1.4 million of them are qualified beneficiaries of the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan (CFIDP).
Cruz added that funds were released to the 15 implementing government agencies as early as January 2023.
Department of Trade and Industry-Bureau of Small and Medium Enterprises Development (DTI-BSMED) Director Susan Mae Salonga informed the panel about the marketing research and marketing assistance programs that the agency provides coconut farmers.
“We need to encourage the families of coconut farmers to continue being engaged in the coconut industry.”
ACT TEACHERS Representative France Castro highlighted the need to encourage the families of coconut farmers to continue being engaged in the coconut industry.
Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Training Institute (DA-ATI) Director Remelyn Recoter noted that the agency has been providing coconut farmers and their families with training, such as the Coconut Specialist Course.
The DA-ATI is also certifying learning sites for agricultural/farm schools.
Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Scholarship Management Division Director Maria Gracia Dela Rama told lawmakers about its Coconut Farmers Scholarship Program which seeks to provide farmers and their families free skills training, free assessment and certification, and free entrepreneurship training, among others.
