ZAMBOANGA DEL SUR (PIA) - Zamboanga del Sur emerged as a hub for coconut enterprise development during a two-day Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) business conference held in Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay.

The business conference is geared towards implementing the PRDP Scale Up in Zamboanga Peninsula, as the third biggest coconut-producing region in the country. With P2 billion in enterprise development investments available in 2025, I-REAP (Investments in Rural Enterprise and Agricultural Productivity) alternate component head Leny Pecson urged the FCAs in the Zamboanga Peninsula to seize the opportunity from a regional perspective because PRDP looks into rural development beyond the municipal and provincial levels.

The event gathered heads of small coconut farmers’ cooperative associations (FCAs) in the region, giving them opportunities to expand partnerships and linkages in terms of markets and other investments. The event facilitated networking sessions and business-to-business meetings, fostering connections between private traders, processors, academia, and financing institutions with coconut credit programs.

Notable developments emerged from the conference, signaling a surge in demand for coconut-based products. Amparitas Coconut Manufacturing, based in Surigao del Sur, revealed significant market interest in coco ropes and nets, highlighting the province's potential as a key supplier.

Amparitas Coconut Manufacturing had a marketing agreement with Dinas Small Coconut Farmers Federation as the lead proponent group and cluster member Bulawan Coconut Farmers Association in the province of Zamboanga del Sur and with Baganipay Small Coconut Farmers Association in Zamboanga Sibugay.

Furthermore, Pecson acknowledged the proactive involvement of the FCAs, highlighting the activity as an excellent platform for fostering public-private partnerships to support the sustainability of the coconut industry in the region.

“Today shows how committed you are to pursue your visions on how you want your businesses to grow,” she said.

As retail prices of coconut products and by-products rise, the Department of Agriculture sees this as a positive indicator in achieving its strategic core functions under the Marcos Administration, encapsulated in MASAGANA, which stands for “Matatag, Sama-Sama, Ganado at Napapanahon.” (EDT/HTB/PIA9-Zamboanga del Sur with reports from DA-PRDP ZamPen)