PCA allocates P1.3M for coco famers in NegOr
by Jennifer Catan-Tilos
DUMAGUETE CITY, Aug. 20 (PIA) The Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) has allocated an amount of more than P1.3 million as incentives for coconut farmers to produce and plant seednuts in Negros Oriental.
The PCA has targeted to plant 96,573 coconut seedlings in an identified 965 hectares of land all over the province.
Assistant Provincial Coconut Development Manager Eva Pinili said some 978 coco famer-individuals in the province are expected to receive an incentive for participating in the massive production and planting of coconut trees.
Under PCA’s National Coconut Productivity Program, the coco farmer-participants in the province are also granted 3,900 bags of salt or sodium chloride as fertilizers to boost the productivity of coconut.
Meanwhile, under the Plant Now Pay Later (PNPL), Pinili said 1st District Congresswoman Jocelyn Limkaichong has funded worth P5 Million for the purchase of coconut planting materials.
For the 2nd District, Rep. George Arnaiz also allocated P1 Million funds for agriculture, but 25 percent of it will be used for the coco farmers in the district.
The Plant Now Pay Later scheme of the Philippine Coconut Authority was designed to encouraged farmers to avail of the program and plant more coconuts.
The PCA has observed this year the 25th National Coconut Week on August 25-28 with the theme “Niyog Yaman ng Nasyon Noon man Hanggang Ngayon.”
The celebration pays tribute to the coconut as the Tree of Life as mandated by Presidential Proclamation No. 142 signed by the late President Corazon C. Aquino in 1987. (PIA NegOr./JCT)