Two-day coco bazaar marks coconut week in Negros Occ.

August 17, 2021

The Philippine Coconut Authority held simple rites, August 9, to open the Coconut Bazaar that featured coco products made by local farmers and producers. Officer-In-Charge Division Chief PCA Negros Occidental Engr. Serafin Auster Layog IV led the activity.* **(PIA-Lljr)**

The Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) here marked the National Coconut Week with a two-day Coco Bazaar on August 9 to 10.
PCA Negros Occidental Division Chief Officer-In-Charge Engr. Serafin Auster Layog IV said the activity showcased various coconut products of coco farmers during the simple rites at their office in Bacolod City.

He said the activity featured coconut products that will hopefully boost demand and in turn increase income of farmers.

“Coconut farmers have been neglected for years,” he said, adding that they envision a better life for the main stakeholders the industry through PCA programs.

Layog said farmers are expected to benefit from the Coconut Levy Act that will give them livelihood projects, incentives and other programs to spur the growth of the industry.

To avail of this assistance every farmer should register for free in the Coconut Farmers Registry System.

They may visit the PCA regional and provincial offices or their local government units to assist them in the registration.

The PCA is doubling its efforts in their campaign as they are expected to register 36,000 by the end of August.

PCA personnel also visit barangays to register farmers.

Assistance from the coconut levy act will be channeled directly to those who are registered by next year, he said.

Layog said there are about 37,000 coconut farmers in the province of Negros Occidental.

Recent coconut inventory showed there are two million bearing coconut in the province, two million non-bearing and about 90,000 senile and are due for cutting and replacement.* (AAL/LLJ/PIA6 Negros Occidental)