Cebu, Bohol coconut farmers to get incentives

Some 4,500 coconut farmers in Cebu and Bohol are expected to receive a total of P8.2 million in incentives through the Philippine Coconut Authority’s cash-for-work program.

PCA administrator Euclides G. Forbes said in a statement the release of funds is in line with the agency’s support for rehabilitation and relief operations in the wake of the devastation caused by the recent earthquake.

Forbes said that under the PCA’s participatory coconut planting project (PCPP), farmer-participants who have successfully raised, transplanted and stabilized seedlings will receive P40 per seedling.

“The PCA decided to release said funds due to the calamity and even if the farmers have not yet finished the project,” he said, meaning that the seedlings have yet to grow past two feet high.

Farmers who are participating in the PCPP have logged a total of 454,880 seedlings, most of which are in Cebu.

Forbes said these seedlings form part of the target of 17.5 million coconut seedlings to be planted this year.

Earlier, Forbes said the PCA was on pace to achieve by yearend its target as it follows through with the PCPP.

He said that if the target was met, the agency would have chalked up 41.3 million seedlings since President Aquino assumed office in mid-2010.

This would be a record number for any administration, topping the 35 million seedlings planted during the nine-year Arroyo administration.

From July 2010 to December 2012, some 23.8 million seedlings have been planted.

Data from the agency show that 5.9 million seedlings were planted during Corazon Aquino’s term, 6.1 million during the Ramos administration, and 24.4 million during the Estrada administration.

Also, the PCA said it intends to repeat last year’s record of fertilizing 20 million coconut trees.

The PCA has bought more than P1 billion worth of salt fertilizer through public bidding since 2008 and has been distributing the stock for free.

Moreover, the budget for coconut-related projects saw an increase of more than thrice from P500 million in 2011 to P1.7 billion in 2013.

Of this year’s budget, one-third is earmarked for intercropping, research, training and market development for coco-based products such as sugar, virgin coconut oil and flour.