DAVAO CITY, Philippines – The Aguino government is bent on reviving the coconut industry especially after super storm Pablo struck the provinces of Davao Oriental and Compostela Valley, considered to be the country’s largest coconut-producing areas.
According to President Benigno Simeon Aquino, “We have short and medium term interventions but what is important is the long-term intervention for the areas affected by Typhoon Pablo and in the long run, eventually revive the country’s coconut industry.”
The President admitted though that it would take a long time for the coconut industry to fully recover.
The President arrived here Wednesday for a series of engagements including addressing the participants to the Meetings, Incentives, Conventions, Events/ Exhibits Conference (MICECON) 2013 forum held here.
The President also joined the Team PNoy senatorial candidates as they barnstormed key areas in Southern Mindanao.
The President cited the short-term interventions carried out by the Department of Agriculture and the Philippine Coconut Industry in providing farm tractors and chainsaws to clear the coconut debris brought about by Typhoon Pablo.
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He said coconut farmers were also given vegetable seeds which they could plant for their alternative source of livelihood.
The President likewise pointed out that for the medium-term intervention for the coconut farmers affected by typhoon Pablo in Davao Oriental, they were provided an additional 40 units of chainsaws for the clearing operation.
The DA also distributed corn seeds intended for planting under the coconut trees.
The President said government would look into improving the production of coconut water for international market.
