LAGUNA / METRO MANILA — Forty-six (46) Coconut Farmers Cooperatives (CFCs) representing the six provinces of the Bicol Region participated in the Study/Field Visit of Coconut Farmer Cooperatives of Region V-Bicol, also known as the Lakbay-Aral, held on August 18–20, 2026 in selected learning institutions and government trade and enterprise development agencies in Region IV-A and the National Capital Region.
Carrying the theme “Bridging Coconut Enterprises to Global Markets: Learning Best Practices in Product Development, Branding, and Trade Promotion,” the three-day activity was conducted under the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan (CFIDP). It was designed to expose cooperative leaders, managers, and key personnel to best practices in product development, branding, market positioning, trade promotion, and enterprise development.
The activity was anchored on the objectives of the CFIDP, which seeks to transform the coconut industry into a progressive, globally competitive, and sustainable sector while improving the socioeconomic well-being of coconut farmers and their communities. The Study/Field Visit provided CFCs with opportunities to benchmark successful practices and gain practical insights that could be adapted to their respective cooperative enterprises.
The first day of the Study/Field Visit was led by Regional Director Atty. Emilio D. Escueta III, who headed the delegation of participating coconut farmer cooperatives and CDA personnel.
The delegation’ s first learning engagement was at the Quezon Federation and Union of Cooperatives in Pagbilao, Quezon Province, where participants undertook a benchmarking activity. This initial engagement provided the CFCs an opportunity to observe cooperative practices and gain insights that could potentially be applied to strengthen their own cooperatives enterprises.
From Quezon, the delegation proceeded to the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) for an afternoon learning engagement. A significant part of the first day was the visit to the Institute of Cooperatives and Bio-Enterprise Development (ICOPED), where Director Escueta III led an exploratory meeting for a possible partnership.
The exploratory meeting opened discussions on potential areas of collaboration that could support the continuing development of coconut farmer cooperatives, particularly in cooperative enterprise development, capacity building, knowledge sharing, and other interventions that may help CFCs become more competitive and sustainable.
The program also included a visit to the Center for Agri-Fisheries and Biosystems Mechanization (BIOMECH) of UPLB, providing participants with exposure to institutions involved in agricultural and technological development. The ICOPED and BIOMECH engagements were both included in the official Day 1 program of the Study/Field Visit.
The activity likewise encouraged networking and partnership-building among CFCs and organizations involved in cooperative development, trade promotion, export development, and enterprise capacity building. These engagements are expected to help the participating cooperatives identify new opportunities, strengthen their business operations, and improve their participation in the coconut value chain.
The succeeding days of the Study/Field Visit brought the participants to several key institutions in Metro Manila. On August 19, the delegation visited the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM) in Pasay City. These visits provided the CFCs with opportunities to learn about trade development, market access, trade promotion, and initiatives that support Philippine enterprises in reaching broader markets.
On the final day, August 20, the participants visited the Philippine Trade Training Center (PTTC) in Pasay City. Later that day, the Philippine International Trading Center (PITC) joined the activity by discussing their programs, projects, and services. The engagement complemented the previous visits by providing another avenue for participants to gain knowledge relevant to trade promotion, enterprise development, and capacity-building.
These institutional visits collectively reinforced the importance of developing products that meet market requirements, strengthening branding and packaging, improving quality, and understanding the mechanisms and opportunities available for market expansion.
The Study/Field Visit served not only as a learning activity but also as a platform for collaboration and partnership – building. By bringing together 46 CFCs from across the six provinces of Bicol, the activity created opportunities for the exchange of experiences, ideas, and strategies among cooperative leaders facing similar challenges and opportunities in the coconut industry.
Ultimately, the activity supports the broader goal of the CFIDP to strengthen the entrepreneurial and market-oriented capabilities of CFCs and transform them into dynamic, resilient, and competitive enterprises capable of creating greater economic opportunities for their members. The knowledge, insights, networks, and potential partnerships gained through the Study/Field Visit are expected to contribute to improved cooperative performance, expanded market access, increased product value, and the long-term development of a globally competitive coconut industry in the Bicol Region.
