President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has approved the revised Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan (CFIDP) until 2028, to focus on the rehabilitation of the coconut industry, and improving the socio-economic status, particularly the incomes, of farmers.
President Marcos issued Memorandum Circular No. 84 on the revised CFIDP on May 21, a copy of which was uploaded on the Official Gazette on Tuesday, June 3. It approved and adopted the CFIDP 2024-2028, directed all government agencies and encouraged government-owned and controlled corporations, financial institutions and local government units to support the implementation of the development plan including its related programs, projects and activities.
The Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), as the lead agency responsible for the promotion and development of the Philippine coconut industry, will lead the implementation of the CFIDP 2024-2028.
Funding for the implementation of the memorandum circular will be charged to the P75-billion Coconut Farmers and Industry Trust Fund pursuant to Republic Act No. 11524, or the Coconut Farmers’ Industry Act, and existing appropriations of concerned government agencies, subject to applicable laws, rules, and regulations.
The CFIDP was originally formulated by the Philippine Coconut Authority for 2022 to 2026, subject to review and recalibration every five years.
The government has described the CFIDP as a comprehensive strategy for the holistic development of the coconut industry with focus on areas such as research and development, farm productivity, and value chain enhancement. It was revised by the PCA, in collaboration with the coconut farmers, local communities and concerned government agencies, to streamline operations, strengthen agency collaborations, and expedite the delivery of benefits and services to the coconut farmers.
Among the revisions was its implementation period to the 2024-2028 time frame, and the restructuring of the six national development programs into seven components.
The training program for coconut farmers and their families was separated from the Social Protection Programs to highlight its critical role as a foundational component in achieving the objectives of the other national development programs.
The seven revised program components are: social protection; coconut farmers organization and development; hybridization; community-based farm enterprise development; farm rehabilitation and improvement; integrated coconut processing and downstream products; innovative research projects and their practical application on coconut processing, production, and distribution; and support services.
