MANILA -- President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has expressed full support to the Philippine Coconut Authority in its bid to plant 100 million coconut trees as sees great opportunity for the country to become the world’s no. 1 in coconut exports.

In a meeting with the Private Sector Advisory Council-Agriculture Sector Group (PSAC-ASG) at the Malacañan Palace on Wednesday, President Marcos discussed their recommendations on the development of the coconut industry and other agricultural products.

PSAC Agricultural Sector Group Member Christopher Po of Century Pacific Group said the group is recommending to accelerate the launch of the massive coconut tree planting program by increasing seednut production.

The President said he will see to it that enough funding will be given to the PCA to carry out the program.

“This is really a great opportunity to the country. We have a chance to do it because [of] the market. Every single part of the nut [has] use and can be sold,” he said.

The Philippines is the second biggest coconut exporting country in the world next to Indonesia.

The government plans to have 100 million coconut trees planted by the end of the Marcos administration. However, the program is not feasible due to limited funding, according to Po.

Despite this, the advisory body made several recommendations to remedy the problem. One is to task the PCA to outline a roadmap to accelerate the launch of the coconut planting program. Another is for the PCA to enter into contract farming with local salt farmers to supply salt as fertilizer.

The PSAC’s recommendation on salt development is consistent with Republic Act No. 11985 or the Philippine Salt Industry Act. The law provides that LGUs shall identify the appropriate areas for local salt production in their respective localities.

According to PSAC, a P2.5-billion budget allows the fertilization of 55 million coconut trees and doubling of local salt production. This could result to 25 percent increase in nut productivity and additional profit to farmers, the body said.

For this year, the PCA aims to replant 8.5 million coconut seedlings in 59,744 hectares. It also intends to fertilize 2.8 million trees in 28,341 hectares.

Meanwhile, PSAC also wants the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and LGUs to pilot areas for salt production. It also urged the Department of Energy (DOE) to develop a roadmap for the gradual implementation of the Biodiesel Act increasing biodiesel from B2 to B59 over three years.

The DOE through consultations conducted by the National Biofuel Board (NBB) intends to issue a circular on gradually increasing biofuel blends from B2 to B5 by 2026 for greater energy self-sufficiency and reduced CO2 emissions. The implementation of the mandatory one percent blend increase in 2024 was moved from July to August 2024. (PND)