In line with the pronouncement of Governor David “JayJay†Suarez that he is bent on making Quezon the country’s top coconut producing province anew, the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) and Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) held a coconut forum at the Bulwagang Kalilayan here recently.
The event was participated in by hundreds of coco farmers from 30 municipalities and Lucena City.
Redempta dR. Querubin of the office of the provincial agriculturist, in compliance with the advocacy of the provincial government, said the forum tackled issues on coconut levy fund and plans and programs of OPA and the Provincial Agriculture and Fisheries Council (PAFC) toward further development of the coconut industry provincewide.
Querubin said that Suarez, in his state of the province address (SOPA) on Quezon Day last August 19, emphasized that, “In economic terms, the coconut industry is our comparative advantage over all the other provinces. No one is better than Quezon province in producing coconut. We were No. 1 once, and we will be No. 1 again,†Suarez told thousands of participants in the week-long celebration of “Niyogyugan Festival†(Araw ng Niyog) and 134th birthday of the late President Manuel L. Quezon), detailing achievements of his administration, including plans and programs in the days ahead.
The provincial governor said that as part of his effort to make the province first in coconut production, within two years of his administration, 200,000 coconut seedlings and 22,000 bags of salt fertilizer were given away for planting and replanting. The program focuses on the Coconut-Based Integrated Farming System, he said.
Suarez’s second SOPA kicked off the festivities featuring a host of activities highlighted by the agri-tourism trade fair at the Perez Park here.
The week-long celebration was graced by a multitude of guests coming from all over the province: city and municipal mayors, city and municipal vice mayors and councilors and representatives of various civic, religious and business organizations, government and private sector workers, senior citizens, farmers and fisherfolk, and thousands of high school and university students who are beneficiaries of the Suarez scholarship program.
“Walang imposible kung lahat tayo ay nagtutulungan at nagkakaisa. Ipinakita itong Lalawigan ng Quezon noong isagawa natin ang Quezon’s 2-in-1,†referring to the monumental planting of 2,680,620 coco seedlings and mangrove propagules in 167 coastal barangay in 34 towns in one day (based on data recorded by PG-ENRO) last June 30.
He expressed joy at the participation and support of around 35,000 Quezonians, young and old, towards the historic environmental endeavor, which is part of his administration’s environment advocacy and commitment he dubbed “Securing Quezon’s Future.â€
“This is proof that there is indeed an unquestionable desire for us Quezonians to serve and to do what is right for Quezon Province,†the governor said.
According to Querubin, other topics tackled during the farmers’ forum were pests and diseases of coconut; improved coconut varieties; Coconut Preservation Act of 1995 (RA 8048) and trade and market development.
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Quezon provincial office headed by Director Marcelina Alcantara on the other hand, discussed investment opportunities in the coconut industry.
Alcantara said coconut farmers in the province can earn additional income by pursuing the manufacture of different coco based products.
Linkback:
https://tubagbohol.mikeligalig.com/index.php?topic=54226.0
