DAVAO CITY – On 25 January 2023, about 39 Coconut Farmers Cooperatives within Region 11 gathered at Seda Abreeza Hotel,  Bajada, Davao City for their capacity building in line with the implementation of R.A. 11524 or the “Coconut Farmers and Industry Trust Fund Act” of 2021 with project title: Coconut Farmers Organization and Development Through Cooperatives (COCOFARMCOOP). This is a partnership between the implementing agencies: Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) and the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA).

During the activity, the coconut farmers cooperatives were introduced to the five-year development plan under the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Program (CFIDP). One of the most important highlights during this activity was the releasing of checks worth P250,000.00 to help them in sustaining, modernizing, and rehabilitating their coconut farms and industries or businesses.

An open forum followed where all participants raised their concerns relative to their grants and they were directly addressed by the panelists from PCA, represented by BOD Member Pepito Capangpangan and Division Chief William Mortalla, CDA’s very own Regional Director Ruben L. Cunanan together with Supervising CDS Antonio C. Escobar, Legal Section Head Atty. Earl F. Larroder and all the Senior CDSs of the region.

As a takeaway, the beneficiaries are told to take good care of their assets, especially the cash assistance given to them. They were also advised to diligently attend to their responsibilities as government beneficiaries and seize the opportunity of being organized as a Federation of coconut farmer cooperatives who will manage and own a processing plant which will soon be built within Region 11.