ABOUT US
The PHILIPPINE COCONUT AUTHORITY is the sole government agency that is tasked
to develop the industry to its full potential in line with the new vision of a united, globally
competitive and efficient coconut industry.
Mandate
"It is hereby directed to be the policy of the State to promote the rapid integrated
development and growth of the coconut and other palm oil industry in all its aspects and
to ensure that the coconut farmers become direct participants in, and beneficiaries of,
such development and growth."
It establishes the legal basis for PCA's sole stewardship and responsibility over the
coconut and other palm oil industries for the benefit of the coconut and oil palm farmers.
Vision
A developed and globally competitive coconut and other palm oil industry that contributes
to food security, improved income, and enhanced participation of all stakeholders by
2020.
Mission
The Philippine Coconut Authority shall ensure the development and implementation of
high value programs for the coconut and other palm oil industry carried out in transparent,
responsible, and accountable manner and with utmost degree of professionalism and
effectiveness.
Organizational Core Values
Functions
Establish quality standards for coconut and palm products and by- products; and,
develop and expand the domestic and foreign markets;
Enhance the capacities and ensure the socio-economic welfare of coconut and
palm farmers and farm workers.
PCA PROGRAMS
In line with the corporate priorities and in pursuit of the sustainable development of a
globally competitive coconut and other oil palm industry, PCA shall vigorously implement
the following programs and projects in support of PCA's Coconut Industry Development
Roadmap.
KEY AREA : Poverty Reduction and Empowerment of the Poor and Vulnerable
KAANIB ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT PROJECT (KEDP)
The project is designed to promote institutionalize coconut-based enterprise through an
integrated resource service convergence approach to increase farm productivity and
incomes of the small coconut farming communities.
The project intends to establish KAANIB Coconut Agro-Industrial Hub or simply “coco
hub” in different coconut provinces of the country. It is defined as a strategic partnership
and productive alliances between PCA and coconut farmer’s organization or
cooperatives, local government units (LGUs), and social business enterprises among
others.
It is composed of Central Business Unit (CBU) that will act as primary or secondary
processor of coconut products into value added products, integrator, consolidator,
market, as well as source of technology and information; and the “spokes“ which shall
form the base for entrepreneurial business operations of the CBU. Initially, they shall act
as primary processor of coconut products or medium-large scale supplier of raw
materials.
3. BIOTECHNOLOGY(BP).
The program focuses on the application of biotechnology in accelerating coconut
production and utilization through tissue culture, genomics (gene expression)
and DNA Marker technology-assisted crop
improvement, crop protection andbiofuels.
7. LABORATORY.
This units provides laboratory services and technical advisories mainly on Plant
and Soil Analysis, Heavy Metal and Toxic Non Metals Analysis, Chemical Analysis,
Microbiological Analysis and Aflatoxin and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon (PAH)
Analysis.
KEY AREA : Integrity of the Environment and Climate Change Mitigation and
Adaptation
REGULATORY SERVICES
Police Power. The PCA shall be vested with the authority to exercise
duly delegated police powers for the proper performance of its functions and
duties.
2. Quality standard for high-value coconut products and by-products for export and
referential
COCONUT PLANTING/REPLANTING.
This involves the replacement of all coconut trees rendered crown-less and fallen by the
typhoon thru proactive funding and sourcing from research center and accredited
suppliers. A new planting scheme- “tatluhan” or three (3) seedlings per hill scheme is
introduced which is proven to be typhoon resilient and higher in productivity per unit area.
Participant of this project were allocated a cash incentive of P30 per seedling planted.
The allowable landholding area by individual participants is from 0.5 to 5 hectares only.
COCONUT INTERCROPPING.
The activity involves the planting of short gestation and annual crops in unutilized spaces
in between coconut trees. This aimed to ensure food security and hunger mitigation
during the aftermath of typhoon Yolanda and provide livelihood and income generation
for the coconut farmers.
COCONUT FERTILIZATION.
This involves the rehabilitation of slightly, moderately and severely damaged coconut
trees thru the application of Inorganic Multi-Nutrient Fertilizer to immediately regain vigor.
Free fertilizer were distributed and applied and cash for work incentive of P25 for every
tree fertilized were given to qualified participants.
The Philippine Coconut Authority was created pursuant to Presidential Decree 232 on
June 30, 1973. It absorbed and assumed the powers and functions of the then Coconut
Coordinating Council (CCC), the Philippine Coconut Administration (PHILCOA) and the
Philippine Coconut Research Institute (PHILCORIN).
Today, it is the sole government agency that is tasked to develop the industry to its full
potential in line with the new vision of a united, globally competitive and efficient coconut
industry.
1940. National Coconut Corporation (NACOCO) was created to promote the growth and
development of the coconut industry.
1954. NACOCO became the Philippine Coconut Administration (PHILCOA) with the
same function and responsibilities. Ten years later, it expanded its scope of operations
and renamed as Philippine Coconut Research Institute (PHILCORIN) an agency created
to monitor, evaluate and conduct researches on the coconut.
1971. At the height of the Period of Expansion, the Coconut Coordinating Council (CCC)
was created in lieu of PHILCORIN and was tasked to supervise, coordinate and evaluate
the implementation of the coconut self-sufficiency program of the government.
1973. Agencies lacked singleness in its purpose and the framework upon which they
operated did not revolve around the total development of the coconut industry where
coconut farmers stood at the focal point. In view of this, Government deemed it necessary
to create an agency that would address that situation, thus, the Philippine Coconut
Authority was created in June 30, 1973 by virtue of P.D. No. 232. It absorbed and
assumed the powers and functions, including the personnel and assets of the then
defunct CCC, PHILCOA, and the PHILCORIN.
1978. The Code was later revised on June 11, 1978 by P.D. No. 1468 ("Revised Coconut
Industry Code") which eventually became the charter of PCA as a public corporation.
1987. On January 30, 1987, pursuant to Executive Order No. 116, the Philippine Coconut
Authority was officially declared as an attached Agency of the Department of Agriculture
(DA). The declaration of transfer to DA from the Office of the President was enacted to
provide overall coordination and monitoring of policies and programs of various sectors
in agriculture. The attachment was confirmed and incorporated in the Administrative Code
of 1987.
2014. By virtue of Executive Order No. 165 issued on May 15, 2014, the Philippine
Coconut Authority, National Food Authority, National Irrigation Administration, and
Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority were transferred from the Department of Agriculture to
the Office of the President. The declaration of transfer of these agencies to the Office of
the President was enacted to enhance and coordinate the efforts of the PCA, NFA, NIA
and FPA in fulfilling their respective mandates.
2016. On June 30, 2016, pursuant to Executive Order No. 01, the Philippine Coconut
Authority was one of the 12 agencies placed under the supervision of the Office of the
Cabinet Secretary. The declaration of supervision of the agency was enacted to develop
and evaluate poverty reduction programs to reduce both the incidence and magnitude of
poverty.
Organizational Structure
While the Authority has a total staff complement of 826 only 567 (as of June 2016)
personnel are currently employed providing services down to the municipal level. 90% of
the workforce are technical, extension and research specialists.
Infrastructures include three (3) Research Centers in Albay, Davao and Zamboanga, and
Extension Training Center in Davao.
The coconut industry is a resilient one, full of potential but has manyweaknesses. While
it hosts many opportunities, it also faces many threats.These are considerations in
formulating policy directions for the industry.
Inputs
Availability of good clones. Only 1% of the areas are plantedwith good clones
Farm Production
Logistics
Export facilities
Milling
Underutilized mills
Presence of refiners
Underutilized refineries
Institutions
Multi-stakeholders
OPPORTUNITIES THREATS
1. Stable and growing export and domestic markets. Poor global image in supply
reliability
2. Good prospects for value added products (VCO, geotextiles, etc.)2. Perception
of government inaction
3. Alternative fuel (coconut methyl ester- biodiesel) demand3. Competition from other
tropical oils(i.e. palm oil and palm kernel oil)4. Low domestic oil consumption
There are several issues that confront the coconut industry. These include: the lack of
top level commitment which has led to a lack of a serious development program for the
industry; the severe shortage of long-term financing for perennial crops; resource
allocation criteria, which is biased toward rice; institutional issues with the PCA
implementing mostly under-funded, short duration programs; implementation problems
with limited involvement, if at all, of LGUs, the private sector, the civil society, and the
academe; lack of civil society engagement especially in analyzing the whole gamut of
problems besetting the sector; global market access such as the campaign of overseas
soybean interests against NO in the US food usage as well as labeling and wrong
attribution of the negative impact on all saturated fats, including medium chain
triglycerides from coconut oil; and CARP and other laws which have discouraged private
investments following provisions on retention limits as well as transferability
Different farmers’ groups, scientists and toxicologist expressed alarm over the
government’s “toxic” response to the outbreak of the coconut scale insect, commonly
known as cocolisap. They said that while it is the quickest way to combat the outbreak, it
will also kill the main source of livelihood of coconut farmers.
Alarming reports showed that a virulent infestation has wiped out most, if not all, of the
coconuts in Tanauan, Batangas. This disease has rendered up to 1,500,000 trees in the
CALABARZON area unproductive and is beginning to affect other crops and fruits in the
area. It is also spreading to other parts of the Philippine archipelago with sightings
reported in MIMAROPA, North Luzon, Cebu, Samar and as far south as Basilan.
CURRENT TRENDS
Albay to ban plastic, smoking, coco tree cutting
Two of these measures—the ordinance that bans the use of plastic and a directive against
cutting of coconut trees—were now both set to be enforced while the smoking ban in
public places was still being deliberated by the provincial board.
Starting June 1, Albay will ban the use of plastic bags and styrofoams by all business
establishments, sari-sari stores, public markets, neighborhoods and up to the big malls.
The ordinance, which was signed by Governor Joey Salceda on February 24, provided
for fines ranging from P1,000 to P5,000 for business establishments found violating the
measure and cancellation of business permits for repeat offenders.
Local executives in the province’s 15 towns and three cities have promised to enforce the
plastic ban and urged residents to be ready with reusable bags for their shopping or
marketing needs.City Mayor Geraldine Rosal said the ban on plastic bags would be one
of the province’s major contributions to solve environmental problems.
On February 24, provincial officials also met with enforcement agencies and owners of
commercial establishments in preparation for the ordinance’s implementation in
June.Albay Board Member Arnold Embestro, chairman of the committee on environment
of the provincial board, said some commercial establishments here have stopped using
plastic bags starting March 1.
The ban on the cutting of coconut trees in Albay was imposed by Agriculture Secretary
Proceso Alcala effective Jan. 30, 2012, based on a representation made by
Salceda.According to the statistics of the Philippine Coconut Authority in Bicol, the
coconut industry in the region supports at least 2.1 million coconut farmers and their
dependents.Albay ranks fifth with an average yearly coconut production of 38,593 metric
tons harvested from 40,180 hectares, while Catanduanes turned out 13,807 MT from
14,375 ha.
Camarines Sur had the highest volume of copra in 2010 with 93,833 MT harvested from
119,045 ha, followed by Sorsogon (97,738 MT from 97,692 ha), Masbate (87,478 MT
from 91,076 ha) and Camarines Norte (82,002 MT from 85,375 ha).
The smoking ban, while already enforced in Legazpi City, was still being deliberated by
the provincial board’s committee on health.The smoking ban was launched in February
last year yet by the Smoke-Free Albay Network, a body created by Salceda, but “the
persistent attempt of the tobacco industry in the policy-making process is impairing the
smooth passage of the proposed ordinance,” claimed Rose Olarte Orbita, head of Add-
Vantage, a nongovernment organization (NGO) partner of the province in pushing for a
smoke-free Albay.
REFERENCES
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/156127/albay-to-ban-plastic-smoking-coco-tree-cutting
https://www.scribd.com/doc/4938753/The-Philippine-Coconut-Industry-Performance-
Issues
http://bulatlat.com/main/2014/07/25/govt-solution-to-cocolisap-could-be-deadly-to-
coconut-industry-environment/Recommendations
https://beta.philstar.com/opinion/2013/06/17/954845/clear-and-present-danger-
philippine-coconut-industry