ÿþ <html> <head> <LINK href="cssfle.css" rel=STYLESHEET type=text/css> </head> <body bgcolor="#FFFFE1" > <table border=0 bgcolor="#FFFFE1" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0> <tr> <td colspan=3><img src=top.jpg border=0><img src=topside.gif border=0></td> </tr> </table> <br> <div style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 22pt; COLOR: blue; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">MAUNLAD NA NIYUGAN,<br>MAUNLAD NA KABUHAYAN</div> <div style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black">A Compilation of Coconut Farmers Success Stories</div> <br> Editor s Note : <p><i>The following success stories are true to life experiences of the coco farmers and farm workers from various provinces and localities, compiled and submitted by the PCA provincial personnel. We decided not to change, edit, nor alter, any portion to maintain the originality and authenticity of the following stories.</i></p> <br> <h3>SUCCESS STORIES ON FARM DIVERSIFICATION</h3> <b>PCA REGION 7 : MANDAUE CITY</b><br> <b>Mr. EUTIQUIO A. IMAN</b><br> <i>Danao, Panglao, Bohol</i><br> <p>Mr. Iman is a 69-year old coconut farmer and an active member of the Danao Small Coconut Farmer s Organization. He owns a farm lot planted to 700 coconut trees, 500 of which are bearing and 200 are still non-bearing.</p> <p>He adopted and implemented the concept of diversified farming in his own coconut farm. He intercropped cash crops like corn, peanut and ube. Nong Eutiquio also owns a few mango trees and planted some portions of his farm with banana. From banana alone, he is earning an average of P700.00 a week while mango generated an initial income of P3,000.00. A farm worker is also tapping some of his coconut trees for  tuba production where he gets a share of 1 gallon per week.</p> <p>He owns two (2) units of copra dryers and produced 6.8 tons copra last year. Aside from crops, he also manages a small piggery project where he earned a gross income of P79,000.00 in 2002. As of this writing, he has 8 sows, 54 piglets and 16 heads under fattening. Aside from hogs, he also raises free-range chickens with a plan of upgrading them for commercial purposes.</p> <br> <hr> <br> <b>PCA REGION 7 : MANDAUE CITY</b><br> <b>Mr. VILLAMOR UMBAHIN</b><br> <i>Tuyon, Carcar, Cebu</i><br> <p>Once an ordinary employee of San Miguel Corporation, Mandaue City and now a farmer entrepreneur. When SMC embarked on its computerization program in 1989, Nong Amor opted to resign from his job where he received a large sum of money. He tried his luck in agriculture. For him to start his life as a farmer, he bought a one-hectare farmland, a 3.5 Hp machine pump, a carabao and a few heads of swine.</p> <p>He was able to avail of PCA s World Bank funded SCFDP Coconut Planting Project and planted his one hectare farmland with hybrid coconut varieties where he intercropped with other crops like banana (where he harvest 1,000  1,500 pieces a week), mangoes and a few gamelina trees (planted along the boundary of his farm), and cash crops like corn, squash and mongo. Moreover, his wife also inherited almost a hectare of land where they cultivated for eggplant production.</p> <p>Aside from crops, he is also into livestock raising, engaging in swine fattening and breeding.</p> <br> <hr> <br> <b>PCA REGION 7 : MANDAUE CITY</b><br> <b>Mr. TOMAS OLMOGUES</b><br> <i>Ginatilan, Cebu</i><br> <p>He used to be active in local politics and it was only after his defeat in the 1998 elections when Mr. Olmogues decided to venture full time in farming. He started to recall and adopt the technologies taught in several agri-based trainings he attended.</p> <p>The coconut farm he owns is situated in a sloping area. To check the problem of soil erosion that plagued his farm (for so many years of neglect), he established contours and intercropped with vegetables and small ruminants. Fecal matter of goats, hogs and kabir chicken serve as organic fertilizers to his coconut and vegetables.</p> <p>Like any other farmer, production and marketing of farm produce is a big problem. Believing that market identification is very crucial, Mr. Olmogues finds his own market. Because the town of Ginatilan is 140 kilometers away from Cebu City, he decided to look for a market in Dumaguete City which is an hour away from Ginatilan via a pump boat.</p> <p>Initially, he brought to Dumaguete City some 100 kilos each of tomato, pole sitao, sweet pepper and 50 pieces buko nuts. He became apprehensive upon knowing that the City s vegetable market is flooded with produce from Mindanao. Scared where to dispose, and having no other option, he entered into a deal with stallholders in Dumaguete who most happened to be members of the Olmogues clan. He left all the goods and was told to go back a week after. To his surprise, all his produced was disposed. Having discovered that the deal is gaining to both parties, he decided to enter into more deals with stallholders and delivered more farm goods including this time mature whole nuts and small ruminants.</p> <p>Presently, he is planning to expand his goat-breeding project. The desire to venture in goat production was inspired when, one time, he was so amazed on how buyers wanted to buy the upgraded goat, which he brought to Dumaguete City (and with him setting the price for the animal). Recently, he can no longer meet the demands for goat among his local buyers. Other farm animals like hogs and poultry are being sold at the local market in Ginatilan due to oversupply in Dumaguete City.</p> <br> <hr> <br> <b>PCA REGION 10 : CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY</b><br> <b>Dr. TERESITA FERMIN GATCHALIAN</b><br> <i>Barangay Pancilan, Sapad, Lanao del Norte</i><br> <p>Dr. Teresita Fermin Gatchalian, a retired Doctor of Medicine, is a native of Cebu City. Upon her marriage to a fellow Doctor, they decided to practice and established a primary hospital in Kapatagan, Lanao del Norte. Years later, they acquired a farm lot in Barangay Pancilan, Sapad, Lanao del Norte which they then planted with coconuts and were taken cared by their tenant.</p> <p>Due to the necessity of rearing up their children themselves, she decided to stay with them in Cebu City and became one of the faculties of the MHAM Southwestern University thereat. A couple of years prior to her retirement, she came back to Kapatagan, Lanao del Norte and ventured to plant some grafted mangoes but unfortunately it was not successful.</p> <p>In later part of 1996, she was invited to attend a one - day seminar on BANANA LACATAN production as an intercrop to their coconut trees. Strongly believing it was a very viable project, the couple ventured into it. Since she cannot attend to the project on a full time basis, she retired from her teaching job and took over the management of the farm, believing there is more fun and enjoyment in farming than in the practice of profession.</p> <p> Why venture in agriculture/farming at this late of age? we may wonder.</p> <p>According to her, farming keep herself busy, productive and closer to nature. Even before her younger days, she loved plants and enjoyed seeing them grow. She wants to be set as an example to the farming community and even help some of them financially as hired hands. In fact, she has generated employment for five farm workers. Farming serves as a challenge to her ability that fulfilling them will give more satisfaction to her self  after all one is not useless even in her senior years.</p> <p>So in the middle of 1997, she started intercropping her coconuts with durian in staggered manner. Other fruits in few numbers namely mangosteen, lanzones, rambutan and black pepper followed suit. To augment more her knowledge on farming, she voraciously read newspapers featuring items on farming, agriculture and agribusiness magazines and adopts them in toto in her 4.47 - hectares coconut farm. She always listens to radio program on Agriculture and TV Program   Ating Alamin by Ka Gerry Geronimo.</p> <p>Her farming knowledge on the different coconut based farming systems was greatly enhanced on the year when she participated the PCA FARMERS FIELD SCHOOL  Paaralan sa Ilalim ng Niyugan under the MAUNLAD NA NIYUGAN PROGRAM in Barangay Pancilan, Sapad.</p> <p> From such learned modern coconut farm technologies, she diligently adopted them in her farm though in a staggered manner. For years, she is always a participant of the PCA PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS and a recipient of the GMA CARES SEED PROGRAM, the seeds received of which, were diligently sowed and nurtured in her vegetable area.</p> <p>To date, she made her 4.47  hectares coconut farm evolved into a fully developed diversified model farm, which was adjudged by the PCA  Lanao del Norte and Region 10  SEARCH COMMITTEE headed by PCDM</p> Vir Romanillos last year as the Model MAUNLAD </p>COCONUT FARM. She was able to intercrop different crops on staggered basis, to wit:</p> <ul> <li>2,200 hills of Banana-Lacatan which are on the productive stage <li>120 hills of lemonsito which are now producing <li>61 Durian trees some of which are starting to bear fruits <li>55 trees of Mangosteen <li>10 trees of Jackfruit which are already bearing <li>50 hills of Black pepper also on the productive stage <li>75 hills of Lemon grass <li>20 hills of Papaya which are now bearing <li>2,300 hills of pineapple, the first batch of which are expected to bear fruits this year <li>200 hills of squash which have earned her considerable income <li>250 hills of coffee seedlings <li>1,000 hills of gabi <li>30 trees of Lanzones and Rambutan. </ul> <p>She also raised five heads of goat for breeding and fattening for their own consumption. Aside from the intercrops, she has established a vegetable garden area planted with 49 hills of gourd (upo), 120 hills of pole sitao, 240 hills of ampalaya, the seeds of which were given to her by PCA under the GMA CARES SEED PROGRAM.</p> <p>With such magnitude of intercrops which she has established within her coconut farm, the PHILIPPINE COCONUT AUTHORITY, so as to sustain the viability of her intercropping projects under MAUNLAD PROGRAM, has installed a STW water system within her farm in recognition of her diligent efforts to establish a model coconut farm with an integrated coco based farming system. With Agric. Victor P. Actub as the PCA extension officer, her coconut farm has evolved what it is to date.</p> <p>This year, she expected a farm income which is triple of her last year income from her coconut farm in the amount of P 82,630.00.</p> <p>A woman coconut farmer at her age, she did not only achieve her being a model coconut woman farmer but was able to demonstrate to other coconut farmers how to increase farm productivity and augment the income derived from coconuts through her model farm. Aside from enhancing food security, she was able to help ease the financial burden of other farm workers by hiring them in the maintenance of her farm.</p> <br> <hr> <br> <b>PCA REGION 8 : PALO LEYTE</b><br> <b>Ms. MILA TALACAY</b><br> <i>National Awardee, Coconut Woman Farmer</i><br> <p>Mrs. Mila Talacay, PCA Region VIII s Outstanding Coconut Woman Farmer for CY 2002 is a resident of Brgy. Luba, Jaro, Leyte. She is married to Cresente Talacay and is blessed with eleven (11) children.</p> <p>Mrs. Talacay is active in civic and religious activities in the barangay being a Barangay Health Worker (BHW) and a Catechist for the past three (3) years. She is also actively involved in school activities being PTA president, a position she holds for the past three years.</p> <p>The couple Mila and Cresento Talacay, are both farmers. Their quest to improve their expertise in farming pushed them to enroll in the Department of Agriculture s University-On-The Air Program. Thus, they are successful graduates on Swine Production in 1998, Corn Production in 1999 and Vegetable Production just recently. She is also an active member of the PCA Small Coconut Farmers Organization and has participated in various PCA Programs including the SCFDP Rehabilitation and Replanting Projects and the Maunlad Na Niyugan Tugon Sa Kahirapan Program.</p> <p>As a farmer, Mila is known for her expertise in adopting modern techniques in farming technology. Their 2.0-hectare coconut farm can supply the family with all their needs including some luxuries. The farm is fully intercropped to various crops like pineapple, banana and different kinds of fruit trees like jackfruit, mango, santol, rambutan, durian, mangosteen and various kinds of vegetables and other cash crops like peanut and mungbean.</p> <p>Cash crops are planted in a manner that will coincide with the high demand for those crops such that it results to better price offer. Prior to PCA s fertilization program, the harvest per hectare was only 900 nuts but this was increased to 2,000 nuts after fertilization. The monthly income from coconut ranges from P3,000.00 to P10,000.00 and some additional income from vegetables and fruit trees. The coconut farm is fully intercropped with 15,000 pineapple slips since 1990 that started to be 80% productive on the second year and with proper care and management had given the family a yearly gross income amounting to P50,000.00 per hectare. Income from banana and other fruit trees was recorded to range from P8,000.00 to 20,000.00 annually. Other sources of income for the family also included backyard hog raising, some native chicken and income derived from fishpond.</p> <p>Aside from the farm products, Mrs. Talacay augments her income by preparing coconut-based food products such as  binagol,  bukayo, or coconut candy,  suman, and  lidgid when there are orders especially during fiestas. Ginata-an is sold daily and some other native delicacies to schoolchildren. She also prepares and sells viands with  gata to neighbors. All these provide the family with a daily income to sustain the day-to-day expenses.</p> <p>Mrs. Talacay is also into environmental protection and control hence, she practices composting or green manuring in the farm. Contour farming is also practiced to minimize soil erosion and to ensure clean culture while IPM minimizes occurrence of pests.</p> <p>Another farming practice of Mrs. Talacay that is worth mentioning is when she allows farmers from neighboring barangays to sell harvested matured pineapples from her farm without having to pay her immediately. The harvesters then sell the fruits at nearby markets such as Jaro, Lunga, Carigara, Palo and Tacloban. The payments of the harvested products are only remitted after the sale, a practice that provides several farmers an income generating opportunity without incurring capital.</p> <p>Mrs. Talacay farm is a model in her locality where farm practices had been duplicated and adopted by neighboring farmers. Her farm has served as a show window for coconut-based farming systems that is frequented by students from Agricultural schools, farmers from other municipalities and some non-government groups.</p> <p>The Talacay family lives a very simple and modest way of life. The family s dream is to educate all the children and to be successful in their life as well.</p> <br> <hr> <br> <b>PCA REGION 5 : ILOILO CITY</b><br> <b>FERLINA GALVAN, JR.</b><br> <i>PCA Agriculturist II, Negros Occidental</i><br> <p>My desire to return to Aklan was never in doubt because it was driven by a strong commitment to help the Ibajay coconut farmers  with whom I spent a great portion of my professional career  at a most important time. This desire had nothing to do with a perceived over confidence on my part that only I could do the job. Far from it.</p> <p>I have a lot of respect for my PCA colleagues in Aklan; I just believe  and I m sure they will agree  because I am form Ibajay, I am a member of the Ibajay Small Coconut Farmers Development Cooperative, I have seen the ISCFDC through some very difficult times, and I have also been a part of their development into a stronger organization that is now involved in a most challenging and exciting phase, that now, more than ever, is the time for me to stay with the Ibajay coconut farmers. What we do together in Ibajay will also be helpful to other coconut farmers not just in Aklan but also throughout the region.</p> <p>You might be interested to know that this unique, coconut-based  productive uses of renewable energy project has caught the attention of various sectors throughout the country, even among potential buyers and customers of coconut  based products. Not only is the  biomass technology unique, but the fact that it is premised, above all, on generating livelihood opportunities for small coconut farmers is what makes it different from all other renewable energy-based projects in the Philippines.</p> <p>Indeed, even the USAID-funded project in Mindanao (AMORE) has invited us to replicate the Pilot project itself in various coconut  rich communities in Mindanao. With a great deal of pride I tell everyone that I was a part of this project from its conceptualization, when the U.S. Company, Community Power Corporation, first came to Aklan upon invitation of Governor Miraflores. The first community they visited was Ibajay, and the first community organization they met was the ISCFDC  of which I was then, as I am now, a member of the Board of Directors.</p> <p>Can you blame me for wanting to stay on with this pioneering project, especially since it has now grown into a viable, job-generating initiative  one with potential of being replicated throughout the country!</p> <p>The many request made by the Sustainable Rural Enterprise (SRE), the Province of Aklan, and the Ibajay Small Coconut Farmers Development Cooperative (ISCFDC) to have me remain so that I can continue to assist the further development of the project have been made spontaneously and were never orchestrated by any selfish motive on my part. This I am gladly doing, in addition to our regular works and targets, being a PCA Agriculturist who believes in the vision and mission of our office.</p> <p>Just to give you an idea of what we have been doing in Ibajay, here is the update:</p> <li>We have constructed another building with an area of 225 square meters as our Coco Coir Facility, at a cost of PhP 625,000.00  employing coop members and their families during the construction. The coop also received a bonus of PhP 50,000 for completing the construction within five weeks. This building was totally financed by SRE, and it houses the second  generation BioMax machine, which is now called the Community Productive Use Platform (C-PUP). <li>There are only 15 units of the C-PUP in the world  14 in the U.S., Mexico, and Canada  and one unit has been given to us in Aklan! This prototype, non-commercial unit costs $125,000.00 <li>Decorticator/Sieving Drum valued at PhP 205,000.00 <li>Office Space <li>Computer <li>Truck donated by the Angelo King Foundation thru Ambassador Benny Tan <li>Incentive payment of PhP200,000.00 <li>Our ISCFDC/SRE Float won second prize (PhP20,000.00) during the Ibajay Ati-atihan Festival, January 25-26, 2003. <li>Training and employing coconut farming families in twining, weaving, and doormat-making <li>Employment for plant personnel <li>Costumers and buyers of Coop products such as copra cake <li>Monetary value for hundreds of thousands of coconut husks that were originally left to rot as garbage and waste <li>Additional income from coco shells (used as fuel for the C-PUP) Future Plans <li>Conduct training for soap and vinegar  making <li>Training in product development, quality control, packaging and marketing <li>Expansion of operations to meet customer demand for volume supply <li>Testing the C- PUP capabilities to enhance the coco-mill processes such as copra drying, conditioning and deodorizing <li>Testing the C-PUP s capabilities to provide back-up power to the coco mill, especially with frequent power outrages in Aklan </ul> <P>Hands-on training in biomass technology (technology transfer), which will help provide a pool of employable, qualified technicians once the C-PUP goes into commercial fabrication in the Philippines.</p> <p>As you can see, there is a whole new world out there in Ibajay, one in which I wish to remain so that I can continue to play a role in the upliftment of the lives of our small coconut farmers.</p> <br> <hr> <br> <b>DAVAO RESEARCH CENTER</b><br> <b>PCA-DRC, DAVAO CITY</b><br> <b>Mr. Restituto Gebone and Mr. Ruben Habel</b><br> <i>Bago, Davao City</i><br> <br> <b>FARMERS EARN EXTRA INCOME FROM SCTNP TECHNOLOGY</b> <p>Mr. Restituto Gebone, a rambutan grower residing at Bago Oshiro, Davao City barely earns a regular income from his fruit trees since it has a seasonal habit of fruiting. Similarly, Mr. Ruben Habel, a coconut farmer from Bago Gallera, Toril, Davao City earns a meager income from his coconut (copra) production. However, when they became farmer-cooperators of PCA-Davao Research Center in its demonstration trial for sequential coconut toddy and coconut production (SCTNP) technology on April, 2002 and October, 2001, respectively they now earn an extra income of about P1,500  1,700 per month.</p> <p>The SCTNP technology, a sustainable and profitable technology which involves the tapping of the first half of the spadix for toddy/sap or  tuba and allowing the remaining half to develop normally to produce either the 8-month  buko nut or the matured 12-month (Maravilla & Magat, 1991) is being demonstrated at the experimental station of PCA-DRC to showcase the advantages of this matured technology to prospective clienteles, the coconut farmers.</p> <p>Messrs. Gebone and Habel adopted the SCTNP technology using nine (9) Catigan dwarf and six (6) Catigan dwarf x Bago Oshiro tall (CATD x BAOT) hybrid palms planted at PCA-DRC, respectively. As farmer-cooperators, they get a share of five (5)-day yield of toddy while the Center gets 2-day toddy yield. From a monthly harvest of 100-110 gallons of toddy (from CATD) and 120 gallons (from CATD x BAOT).</p> <p>Messrs. Gebone and Habel get a share of about 72-79 and 86 gallons of toddy, respectively which they sell as coconut vinegar or  tuba for P20/gal. Thus, they earn about P1,580  1,720 every month from this coconut product. On the other hand, the nuts produced from the remaining spathe are harvested and sold by the Center as whole husked nuts.</p> <p>The prospect of increased farm income is clearly indicated by the adoption of this feasible and profitable technology. Further, the processing of coconut toddy or 'tuba' into high value, natural and nutritious food products such as vinegar, sugar, syrup ( honey ) and fresh sap drink can generate more income to farmers by as much as P305-490/tree/month or P30,500  49,000/ha/month (Secretaria et.al., 2002). Indeed, adoption of the SCTNP technology and utilization of its food by-products will surely produce more income to our coconut farmers. In addition to this, the adoption of this technology will provide job generation (especially to family women members) and available natural and nutritious food products. This is in line with the thrust of the Department of Agriculture and Philippine Coconut Authority of providing job opportunities, increased income and food security to the grassroots level of our society, the farmers.</p> <br> <hr> <br> <b>PCA-REGION XII - SOCCSKSARGEN</b><br> <b>Mr. Delfin Crisostomo</b><br> <i>General Santos City</i><br> <p>Mang Delfin as he is fondly called by his peers and neighbors has been a coconut farmer since 1985. His 5-hectare farm is located at barangay Katangawan, General Santos City. His being a coconut farmer started when his farm was abandoned by STANFILCO as a contract grower for banana. A malady hit the industry causing immense loss to the company. Coincidentally, his former classmate in the person of AG II Rodolfo Gagarin who was newly assigned in General Santos City met him. Mang Delfin had no idea that meeting his former classmate at CLSU will later turn him into an outstanding farmer twice. He was declared Outstanding Coconut Farmer in 1991 at the Regional Level. In the year 2000, he was again declared as an Outstanding Coconut Farmer at he national level under the Department of Agriculture under the GAWAD SAKA PROGRAM. PCA, recognizing the achievements of Mang Delfin was also awarded as an Outstanding Coconut Farmer for calendar year 2000.</p> <p>Mang Delfin success did not materialize overnight. For several years of hard work, patience, and resourcefulness and through the assistance and supervision of AG II Gagarin he was able to fully plant his farm with seven (7) kinds of dwarf coconut. He adopted modern technologies not only on coconut culture but with other crops as well. In fact, a portion of his farm (1.5 ha.) planted to calamansi has a drip irrigation. He is an active supporter of coconut-based farming system where he believed on learning by doing. He was able to diversify his farm.</p> <p>To date, Mang Delfin s farm has coconut as main crop, mango, jackfruit, calamansi, papaya, guapple and banana as intercrops. He was able to expand his poultry being a contract grower of SWIFT to 36,000 heads and still planning to expand. According to him, he can easily get an average net income of P100,000.00 per quarter from his poultry project.</p> <p>His biggest income come from his coconut seedlings sold as planting material. He can easily sell an average of 9,000 seedlings per quarter at P10.00 each equivalent to P90,000.00. Some of his seednuts are sold as planting material at P5.00 each. The excess harvest from coconut is sold as whole nut to Franklin and Baker with more or less 5000-6000 nuts per quarter.</p> <p>Mang Delfin s farm has been made as a showcase in this place. Farmers coming from as far as Surigao and adjacent provinces are coming over just to see for themselves what technologies of modern agriculture Mang Delfin has adopted. From time to time he is also invited as resource speaker to various forum on agriculture.</p> <p>Per our recent visitation, Mang Delfin is a picture of contented man though he still plans to establish lowland rice and aqua culture (fish pond) between rows of his coconut which is planted 15 meters apart. He never forget to mention what PCA and AG II Gagarin have done that made him into what he is today . . . . a successful coconut farmer.</P> <br> <hr> <br> <b>PCA-REGION IX - ZAMBOANGA CITY</b><br> <b>Mr. William N. Chua</b><br> <i>Bag-ong Borbon, Buug Zamboanga Sibugay</i><br> <p>This farmer was formerly employed by PNOC Malangas Coal Corporation in Zamboanga Sibugay until it has closed operation. He is a Mining Engineer by profession but a farmer by vocation. He has since stop working in the government to concentrate on his farm activities. He is a person who is easy to deal with, very active operating agriculturist and most of all, a simple, humble and hardworking person.</p> <p>He believes that a piece of land can be turned into a cash opportunity as long as you explore all its possibilities. Mediocrity in agriculture farming is not his belief since he said that it is in one s richness of ideas and in putting all into action that guarantees farm success.</p> <p>The family acquired a 6.0-hectare land which he planted to local coconut, rubber coffee and banana. After his stint at PNOC, he was able to acquire again a 7.0-hectare area adjacent to his farm. Entered into a contract for PCA Multiloc-Actpro Program in 1995, the area was planted with 435 PCA 15-4 coconut hybrids in September 1997.</p> <p>Since the area is moderately sloping, the owner planted tropical kudzu, and centrosema cover crops to at least minimize soil erosion.</p> <p>The PCA monitoring team loves to visit this farm with its lush cover crops, properly and regularly ring weeded and the robust growing coconuts are indeed a consoling site to appreciate. The palms are fertilized with commercial sources augmented with organic fertilizers. This farm has farm helpers who undertake the weeding, fertilization, rolling of cover crops, spraying and all other farm chores.</p> <p>The first spathe emergence for the hybrids planted was observed after 25 months from planting. In 1999, the owner decided to intercrop durian (90), lanzones (100) and rambutan (25) in between hills of coconut.</p> <p>In the year 2000, rennel variety was planted in the vacant areas filling all the gaps. Hence, the area is now fully planted.</p> <p>Five years from planting, the farm was able to produce around 1,640 matured nuts excluding nutfalls.</p> <p>Aside from the farm, the family also raises anthuriums in their backyard, some sort of enhancing the image of a home where a beautiful family lives.</p> <p>They are a family of six and Mr. Chua has declared that his farm income is sufficient enough to support the needs of his family including the education of his children.</p> <br> <hr> <br> <b>PCA-REGION IX - ZAMBOANGA CITY</b><br> <b>Mr. Juanito Magallanes</b><br> <i>Maras, Sindangan District II, Zamboanga del Norte</i><br> <p>Mr. Juanito Magallanes is married to Rosario D. Magallanes. He has three professional children at present; 2 in Aeronautics and 1 Medical Technologist.</p> <p>He has six (6) hectares of agricultural land that he tills to the present time; four hectares planted to coconut, one hectare planted to rice, and one hectare to corn.</p> <p>At the early age of ten (10), he has learned the rudiments of farming first as a helper to his father. He pastures their carabaos, learns to plow and had been in this life until he got married at the age of 24. Acquisition of land was by piece, such that, the first two hectares was planted to coconut. Since they were also planting rice, the construction of a rice mill followed so with their house in 1987. His married life was blessed with good children and his economic life was also improving.</p> </p>He also acquired a tractor by his own capital in 1990 and a water pump was also availed through the assistance of the Department of Agriculture. The same year, he bought another tractor and by year 2001, a thresher was acquired. These equipments were purchased out of his own sweat and had been useful tools in his entrepreneurial activities. He had put on all the sacrifices and hardships into worthwhile endeavors by capitalizing on the use of technologies for his own development.</p> <p>His coconut farm which PCA has given assistance is also intercropped with mangoes, bananas, and other fruit trees. He has a small fishpond measuring 80 square meters where he raises tilapia and carpa. He earned PhP 26,000.00 from his copra sales for the year 2002. He also earned 100 bags of rice per cropping season from the services of his tractor. The one-hectare rice field is producing 105 bags rice per year. He could easily produce 2,000 kilograms every three years. Bananas are for the home and community consumption so with other fruit trees.</p> <p>For his animals, he has as of now, 2 horses, a carabao, 6 cows, and 6 fighting cocks for barangay derby.</p> <p>He is an active member of different organizations; an active president of DA Farmers Organization and Maras Small Coconut Farmers Organization respectively. He holds the chairmanship of the Maras Small Coconut Farmers Multi Purpose Cooperative.</p> <br> <hr> <br> <b>PCA-REGION IX - ZAMBOANGA CITY</b><br> <b>Mrs. Salud Cruz</b><br> <i>Baybay, Liloy, Zamboanga del Norte</i><br> <p>Mrs. Salud Cruz is a resident of Baybay, Liloy, Zamboanga del Norte, a mother of two who are both married. She herself is a pharmacist and married to Jun Cruz, a retired government employee.</p> <p>Despite her profession, she opted to be a farmer and the manager of her own farm at the same time. She is managing a 12-<p>hectare coconut farm located at Compra, Liloy, Zamboanga del Norte. She is a recipient of our planting/replanting program, and the rehabilitation program. She loves learning and a regular student of the various trainings conducted by PCA regarding coconut industry activities.</p> <p>She applies good management practices for her farm especially on fertilization. Because of the rehabilitation program of the PCA, she was able to generate a high income from her coconut production which she has not been enjoying in the past. </p> <p>A career person and a farmer at the same time, she is the present manager of the Liloy People s Integrated Cooperative which inspite of the numerous financial problems, she has manage to handle the job carefully with tact and prudence. She handles the administrative and financial aspects of management; nearly a one-woman team.</p> <p>On cooperatives, she was also very thankful for PCA where she has learned a lot about cooperativism.</p> <br> <hr> <br> <b>PCA-REGION XI  SOUTHERN MINDANAO</b><br> <b>Bansalan Federation of Small Coconut Farmers</b><br> <i>Davao Del Sur</i><br> <br> <b>INCREASING BAFESCO / BCMC BUSINESS VOLUME</b> <p>The Bansalan Federation of Small Coconut Farmers Organization (BAFESCO) traced its roots and origin from the Barangay SCFO who bond together and pooled resources in putting-up a small copra marketing project. Its initial capitalization was shed by the individual farmer-worker who painstakingly worked for what is now known in the Municipality of Bansalan as the famous  Bansalan Coconut Farmers and Workers Multi-Purpose Cooperative , a by-word among copra producers as the choice among farmers with its packages of programs and services.</p> <p>With a strong, sound and stable fiscal resources it now boast of a 1.5M assets from a meager amount of P 30,000.00 and a P 100,000 loan assistance from the Department of Labor and Employment, RO XI, Davao City which was repaid as scheduled.</p> <p>Its center of operations evolved from a lowly bodega to a two-storey building office provided by the LGU. The ground floor is always busy with the usual loading and unloading operations of copra.</p> <p>In a span of five years, its membership have grown 251% or a total of 564 (from 224 members) with 12 barangays SCFO as institutional members. Its members equity have reached P 1,295,085.23 as of December 2002. Being very viable in its operation, BCMC-Copra Marketing operations also caters to clients from the nearby barangays of the Municipality of Magsaysay, Matanao, and Hagonoy, all in Davao del Sur.</p> <p>The total volume of copra traded during the year 2002 is 1,667.123 kilogram. The total cash advances extended to its membership for providential purposes as of February 2003 is P 760,482.40. The cooperative have financed for the expansion of another span of the building for its use and convenience.</p> <p>The cooperative focuses its programs and services along with copra marketing, credit services and consumers store. Each area of operation is doing just well in terms of quality and timely delivery of services to each and every clientele. The business operations are all profitable mainly because of the patronage extended by every member transacting with the cooperative.</p> <p>Its leadership has been effective in building the foundation of the organization through active and spirited cooperation in all local undertakings spearheaded by the LGU and with other stakeholders.</p> <p>The cooperative leadership have gained a seat at the local Cooperative Development Council and other significant body steering the growth and development in the municipality. Through its program and services that are attuned to the needs and requirements of the local folks.</p> <p>BCMC is now an institution providing the basic services a member could have ever realized. It is now an acknowledge player in the coconut industry. With the regular declaration and distribution of dividends and patronage refunds, the cooperative stand true to its name. Service to its membership!</p> <p>The formula: continuous education and training, Fiscal discipline and human resource development proves effective and still an area of vast opportunities and challenges.</p> <br> <hr> <br> <b>PCA-REGION XI  SOUTHERN MINDANAO</b><br> <b>Mr. Manuel Campaner</b><br> <i>Kiblagon, Sulop, Davao Del Sur</i><br> <br> <b>HARDWORK : KEY TO SUCCESS</b> <p>In 1949, the parents of Manuel Campaner migrated from Visayas to Barangay Kiblagon, Sulop, Davao del Sur. Responding to the invitations of some relatives who experienced a relief from poverty. But things were not turned out to be bed of roses for the family. They should strive and persevere to earn a living. They worked as coconut farm workers. Of the six siblings of the family, Manuel was the third child. Maning as he is fondly called, grew to be industrious and hardworking. He worked as a hired farm worker of a neighboring coconut farm.</p> <p>In 1956, Maning decided to establish a family of his own. From that time on, they were able to bear six children who became their inspiration and farm help in a one-half hectare farm which they acquired through their meager earnings.</p> <p>In 1970, through sacrifice, the family was able to acquire additional five hectares of land in an adjacent barangay, wherein they planted it with coconuts and intercrops like corn and cassava.</p> <p>It was in 1980 when Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) technician organized the Small Coconut Farmers Organization (SCFO), wherein Maning became an active officer of the Kiblagon SCFO which later turned into a cooperative. He actively participated in the programs and projects of PCA. He showed more interest in the National Coconut Intercropping Program (NCIP).</p> <p>He was able to plant durian, mango, lanzones, jackfruit and banana. On the hilly portion of his land, he planted it with Narra, Gemelina and Mahogany in order to preserve the watershed in the locality.</p> <p>Maning became one of the recipients of the Small Coconut Farms Development Projects (SCFDP) for seven years which was started in 1992. The project made Maning enjoy double coconut production, thus, increasing his income. The situation made Maning decide to renovate his old conventional tapahan drier to a modified one.</p> <p>He constructed it using concrete materials for its wallings and floorings; and he used flat bars as drying bed. He utilized his Gemelina trees for construction of the drier s shed. The project was completed with an estimated cost of P 70,000.00 and through the technical assistance of the Coconut Development Officer (CDO) assigned, Mr. Roy M. Longakit.</p> <p>With the guidance of CDO Longakit, Maning opted to adopt the Post Rehab Technology. He utilized coconut husks and leaves, cut grasses as mulching materials to every coconut tree. He also planted Flemengia plants around his coconut trees which later be a source of organic fertilizer. He also used his animal manure collection from his livestock raised.</p> <p>Income form livestock-raising contributed much to his earnings. He raised carabao, cattle, hogs and goats. He also raised chickens. According to Maning, he implemented technologies learned from Mt. Carmel, Kinuskusan, Bansalan, Davao del Sur and some other places where he made project and field visits.</p> <p>To make Maning physically fit, he maintained 5-10 coconut trees as a source of coconut toddy and coconut vinegar. He do it himself everyday.</p> <p>His annual earnings reached P 200,000.00. He has sent his children to college who later became professionals, a successful marine engineer, seaman, ship crew, government employees and businessmen.</p> <p>Success is achieved through hard work and trust in God.</p> <br> <hr> <br> <b>COCO HERBAL SOAP MAKERS</b> <p>During the economic crisis in 2001, a coco farming family thought of making things meet both ends. Mr. and Mrs. Perfecto Lim tilled a 1.5 - hectare coconut farm in Barangay Tagabuli, Davao del Sur. They were bestowed with ten children, seven females and three males, all have their family of their own. By this time, the price of copra had dropped to P 7.00 per kilogram. How could Nong Peping and his wife Pilar survived with P10,500.00 income per year?</p> <p>Nong Peping, an active Small Coconut Farmers Organization (SCFO) President in Bararangay Tagabuli got some insights of utilizing coconut products and by-products during SCFO meetings with fellow coconut farmers and PCA agriculturist. On the other hand, Pilar and her daughters didn t lost hope. They bought a tape from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in order to know further how to make beauty soap. This time they knew that the main ingredient is coconut oil.</p> <p>So, they decided to add value to coconut product. With their daughter Norma, who had an experience being a worker of local soap factory. Four soap products were perfected, after several experiments made at the kitchen of their mother. The following are as follows:</p> <ol> <li>MILD STRENGTH <ul> <li>Papaya (orange) <li>Avocado </ul> <li>REGULAR STRENGTH <ul> <li>Carrots <li>Yellow Lemon <li>Pepino with wheat germ </ul> <li>FOR DARK PIGMENTATION <ul> <li>White I <li>White II  extra strength </ul> <li>WHITENING <ul> <li>Bleaching Soap </ul> </ol> <p>With the abovementioned products, they were able to register the product with the DTI. The natural herbal soap was branded with the name PH (preventive and healing). These products were newly out of the market. One outlet is the NCC at Davao City.</p> At present, the family keeps on creating new products, namely: <ol> <li>WHITENING  Maintenance/Bleaching <li>ANTI-AGING  Green Color <li>MOISTURIZING  (Bluish Color) Scent  Cool Water <li>REJUVINATING  Beige Color <li>FEMININE HYGIENE  Pink Color </ol> <p>Three other products are still in the making, to wit: 1. Assunting for Ap-ap; 2. Ginseng; and 3. Tutti fruit soap.</p> <p>This is only the beginning of the herbal soap makers success. But there is a big lesson learned   ADVERSITY IS THE BEST OPPORTUNITY .</p> <br> <hr> <br> <b>SUCCESS STORY</b> <p>Somewhere in Balabag, Digos City stood 50 coconut trees in a half-hectare land of Edito Marzado when he bought the area in 1990. The coconut production of his land cannot suffice the growing needs and wants of his two children named Kimberly, now aged 11 and Blyclint, now aged 12. His wife Rebecca could hardly meet both ends of the income earned from the copra.</p> <p>When Small Coconut Farmers Organization (SCFO) was organized in 1989 at Balabag, coconut farmers and farmworkers in the area showed a typical Filipino character, the wait and see attitude. Upon Edito s arrival in the area and seeing that something must be done to his coconut trees, he joined the organization and became its president for the period 1991 to 1997.</p> <p>The Fertilization Program of the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) was now on initial stage upon his assumption of office. The 31-year old president strived hard to promote the program and enthusiastic about its end-result.</p> <p>He applied his knowledge learned form trainings conducted by the agriculturists of PCA and lead his members by example. He intercropped coconut with banana and sugar cane. When Southern Mindanao Agricultural Program (SMAP) came, he was a beneficiary of its upland development and planted mango trees.</p> <p>Soon enough, after a year of fertilizing Ammonium Sulfate (AS) and Sodium Chloride (NaCl), his coconut production doubled. From then onwards, he enjoyed the increased income because it is his main source, all other crops are his sidelines.</p> <p>Although fertilization program terminated in the year 2001, he believed in sustainable farming and applied organic farming re: mulching, additional learning from PCA trainings, thereby sustaining his production.</p> <br> <hr> <br> <b>PCA-REGION XI  SOUTHERN MINDANAO</b><br> <b>Ms. Elizabeth M. Maruya</b><br> <i>Pantukan, Davao del Norte</i><br> <p>Elizabeth M. Maruya is a native of Pantukan, Davao del Norte. Her marriage in 1970 to one of the descendants of the landed Maruya clan, made her reside in Don Marcelino, Davao del Sur for good.</p> <p>Prior to the demise of her husband in 1983, the 24-hectare land was purely devoted to coconut of local varieties of about 500 hills. Other areas are grasslands and for grazing purposes. She was left behind with five young children, 3 girls and two boys.</p> <p>Despite the loss of the main pillar of the family, it did not hinder her to pursue the plans of which they had envisioned. She did not give up farming but instead slowly expand and utilized the whole area including brushes.</p> <p>It was also about the same year when she joined PCA programs and projects especially the National Coconut Planting and Replanting projects. She received hybrid seednuts and seedlings and being the recipient of the agency s packages of technology, the number of hills from then on has grown to 1,500 in 1985.</p> <p>Even if the harvest from coconut is plentiful, it does not mean that she is already well off. With fluctuating copra prices, unpredictable weather condition, and high cost of labor, she oftentimes has to resort to cash advances in the local traders in order to sustain her children s school needs and in order to keep body and soul together.</p> <p>It was only in the early 1990 s when she decided to start planting high-yielding crops in some portions of the farm, for additional income. In 1992, about three hectare of lacatan was intercrop and it turned out very promising. It adds about 30% to the total coconut income.</p> <p>Price of copra by that time is not much good. By the aid of brochures and pamphlets given by PCA she was greatly encouraged to intercrop fruit trees and other high value crops. Quite a number of fruit trees like durian, lanzones, rambutan and mango were already planted in 1998 and 1999.</p> <p>Almost 9,000 hills of coffee were planted in almost 50% of the whole area. A 2-hectare hybrid corn was a yearly routine and was doing well in terms of income and maintaining soil fertility through crop rotation.</p> <p>A year ago, she decided to phase out banana due to  tibagnol disease and change it instead to corn. Just recently, a MOA with SMC was inked between them for a 2-hectare cassava production.</P> <p>Aside from crops, she also raised animals like chickens for consumption purposes, sheep (5 heads for home use), goat (22 heads for consumption and some times for sale), cattle (3 heads for breeding), carabao (2 heads for farm use), turkey (4 heads for consumption purposes), hybrid swine (5 heads for commercial purposes), and a number of native swine that were distributed to other farm workers and neighbors for sharing purposes.</p> <p>Nang Betty as she is fondly called, has been a recipient of PCA SCFDP projects including a three-hectare replanting project. It is through PCA intercropping assistance of corn project that stirred her interest in producing corn under coconut. She had also received free corn seedlings from the provincial government of Davao del Sur.</p> <P>For her, success can be measured by her children s achievements. Mark Anthony, now a heart surgeon, Dicky, a BSMT graduate, Annie a pharmacist, Anna Liza, a commerce graduate, and Ian, the youngest is a seaman. Her motto is seek first God s kingdom, the fact that she built her own chapel.</p> <br> <hr> <br> <b>PCA-REGION XI  SOUTHERN MINDANAO</b><br> <b>Mr. Bernardo Bumagat</b><br> <i>San Isidro, Kaputian, IGCS, Davao</i><br> <p>In 1988, Mr. Bernardo Bumagat or Nong Nardo bought a 2-hectare coconut farm with dying coconut trees due to malnutrition. His wife Maria on the other hand inherited 2 hectares coconut farm from her parents and made their coconut farms to 4 hectares.</p> <p>In that same year, the SCFO was organized with Nong Nardo as the first President of the San Isidro SCFO. He then mulched his coconut trees and stopped burning of farm wastes. In 1990 he received his first fertilizer assistance from PCA-FALP project and for the following years under the SCFDP. His coconut farm was revived and production went up tremendously. Good production continue due to his continued NaCl application together with flemengia, coconut husks and farm wastes after graduation from SCFDP.</p> <p>Nong Nardo is also a recipient of Coffee and Fruit trees seedlings and Kabir chicks under the Maunlad program. With the assistance of his wife Maria, he was able to improve is farm well and easily implement farm diversification.</p> <p>Nong Nardo is also active in community affairs and organizations, like the Dayong, GKK, Purok and BDC. At present, he is the Manager of the San Isidro Small Coconut Farmers Development Cooperative. He claimed that without PCA s technical, fertilizer and other assistance, he could not send his seven (7) children to school especially to college. At present, his 3 children had already graduated college in which 2 are now working abroad.</p> <br> <hr> <br> <b>PCA-REGION XI  SOUTHERN MINDANAO</b><br> <b>Mr. Napoleon Allawan</b><br> <i>Barangay Palili, Padada, Davao del Sur</i><br> <p>Mr. Napoleon Allawan, a coconut farmer residing at barangay Palili of Padada, Davao del Sur is married to Nena Allawan and blessed with six (6) children, of which four (4) of them are already professional.</p> <p>Mr. Allawan is a native of Cebu and migrated to Padada in 1964 at he age of 30 and married three years after. In order to support his family, he works as farm worker with the help of his wife engaging business thru a sari-sari store. Just a short period of time, they accumulated an amount to buy a 3.00 has. agricultural land. Mr. Allawan eagerly develop the newly owned property by planting it with coconuts.</p> <p>Mr. Allawan is also very active in participation of any activities in the barangay for development purposes. After being served as president of the Small Coconut Farmers Organization for several years, he is now the chairman of barangay Palili. Thru his receptiveness to the different programs of the government, he developed his coconut farm and establishing intercrops with banana, cacao and livestock.</p> <br> <hr> <br> <b>PCA-REGION XI  SOUTHERN MINDANAO</b><br> <b>Mrs. Rita Solatorio</b><br> <i>Padada, Davao del Sur</i><br> <br> <b>COCONUT AND  BIBINGKA MAKING LIVES BETTER</b> <p>Mrs. Rita Solatorio or simply Nanay Rita in her community is a hardworking mother. She was married to the late Florentino Solatorio and blessed with 6 children. <p>They were originally form Cebu and moved to Padada, Davao del Sur when they got married. But life was not good for them there. So seeking for greener pasture, they reached Barangay, New Sibonga, Nabunturan, Compostela Valley in year 1965.</p> <p>Few years later her husband died due to illness. Being a mother and at the same time breadwinner did not stop her from joining an organization. She was an active SCFO member even and officer of PTCA and Council of Women. Her children inspired her to work even harder in order to give her family all they need.</p> <p>Being a single parent, life is getting herder and herder for Nanay Rita. Farming was their primary source of income but their income cannot sustain their basic needs.</p> <p>As a mother, with entrepreneurial spirit, a mother looking for a better life, she decided to bake bibingka to augment their income. The family worked together baking and selling bibingka to the people in the community. Before it was considered a sideline but now it has become their major source of income.</p> <p>But because of old age, she decided to leave this business to her children. All her children now have their own business in the barangay. Four of her children have bibingkahan in New Sibonga while the other two children established their bibingkahan in Mati, Davao Oriental. According to her, they also have an outlet in Cagayan de Oro City and Manila.</p> <p>Their bibingka is in demand especially for the travelers. New Sibonga becomes a stop over for bus passengers and truckers who wish to eat bibingka.</p> <p>Nanay Rita recalled her desire to help and encourage her neighbors to go into business for there s money in it. Nanay Rita s experience has become an inspiration to the barangay. At present there are already ten (10) bibingkahan in New Sabonga. She added her vision is to transform their stagnant community into a booming business center. With the help of barangay officials they tap the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) for training in packaging and financing for small business together with the support of the Municipal and Provincial Government. At present, barangay New Sibonga has been declared as the  Barangay Food Center in the province of Compostela Valley.</p> <p>According to Nanay Rita, for their bibingka alone, they would consume 2,000 nuts/day. All in all the total coconut consumption of ten (10) bibingkahan is more or less 4,500 nuts/day. Before they just buy the coconut from their neighbors. But since their demand has grown, they have regular suppliers from neighboring barangays as well as from other municipality like Monkayo.</p> <p>Mrs. Rita Solatorio a pioneer of this business in her barangay is a model mother to her neighbors and to her community for being a hardworking woman.</p> <br> <hr> <br> <b>PCA-REGION XIV  ARMM</b><br> <b>ROLANDO SIRILAN VELASCO</b><br> <i>Colonia, Lamitan, Basilan</i><br> <br> <b>Breakdown of Income Sources</b> <br> <br> <table cellspacing=2 cellpadding=2 border=1> <tr align=center> <td rowspan=2><b>SOURCE OF INCOME</b></td><td colspan=2><b>AVERAGE ANNUAL INCOME (PhP)</b></td> </tr> <tr align=center> <td><b>1990-1998</b></td><td><b>1999-2002</b></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Copra</td><td>45,000.00</td><td>60,000.00</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Toddy from Coconuts</td><td>-</td><td>30,000.00</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Coffee</td><td>8,000.00</td><td>5,000.00</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Lanzones and other fruits</td><td>3,000.00</td><td>5,000.00</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Vegetables</td><td>2,000.00</td><td>5,000.00</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Rice</td><td>5,000.00</td><td>5,000.00</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Hogs and Poultry</td><td>5,000.00</td><td>5,000.00</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Total Annual Income</td><td>70,000.00</td><td>115,000.00</td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan=2 align=center><b>Annual Average Income 1992-2002</b></td><td><b>92,000.00</b></td> </tr> </table> <br> <b>FARM DATA</b><br> <br> <i>Total Farm Area : Approximately Five (5.0) hectares</i><br> <br> <br> <b>Crops and Hectarage</b><br> <br> <table cellspacing=2 cellpadding=2 border=1> <tr> <td>Coconut for toddy with Abaca</td><td>1.0 Hectare</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Coconut with lanzones, coffee, rambutan and durian intercrops</td><td>3.5</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Rice and vegetables</td><td>0.5</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Tilapia and hito fishpond (for home consumption only)</td><td>0.08</td> </tr> </table> <br> <b>Coconut Farm Data:</b><br> <ul> <li>Approximately 350 coconut palms, 40-50 years old, Local Tall Variety <li>Approximately 120 trees, 6 years old, PCA 15-D Variety </ul> <b>COCONUT FARMING PRACTICES AND TECHNOLOGY ADOPTION</b><br> <br> <table cellspacing=2 cellpadding=2 border=1> <tr align=center> <td colspan=2></td> <td colspan=2 align=center><b>Condition of Coconut Farm/ Coconut Trees</b></td> <td colspan=2><b>Coconut Farm Income (PhP)</b></td> </tr> <tr align=center> <td><b>PCA Technology Adopted</b></td> <td><b>When & How Adopted</b></td> <td><b>Before Tech. Adoption</b></td> <td><b>After Tech. Adoption</b>/td> <td><b>Before Tech. Adoption</b></td> <td><b>After Tech. Adoption</b></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Planting with high-yielding coconut hybrid variety</td> <td>1992: through PCA extension programs</td> <td>Senile and low-bearing coconut trees</td> <td>Replaced with early-bearing coconut palms</td> <td>&nbsp;&nbsp;</td> <td>&nbsp;&nbsp;</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Toddy Production</td> <td>1998 : same source</td> <td>Limited income from copra alone</td> <td>Source of additional farm income</td> <td>&nbsp;&nbsp;</td> <td>30,000.00</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Fertilization</td> <td>1990 : same source</td> <td>Low yield of 15,000 nuts/yr.</td> <td>Increased yield by 50% or more, up to 23,500 nuts/yr.</td> <td>At ave. price of P9/kg.(4 nuts /kg. of copra: 35,000.00</td> <td>At the same price of P9/kg. (3.5 nuts/kg. of copra: 60,000.00</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Intercropping with farm diversification with cash and permanent crops; livestock raising</td> <td>1992-1998: same source</td> <td>Limited income from monocropping</td> <td>Source of additional farm income</td> <td>&nbsp;&nbsp;</td> <td>23,000.00</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Mulching </td> <td>1999 : same source</td> <td>Erratic yield during dry months </td> <td>Yield more stable throughout the year</td> <td>&nbsp;&nbsp;</td> <td>&nbsp;&nbsp;</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Copra drying through hot-air and tapahan dryers</td> <td>1994-1999 : same source</td> <td>Copra produced with high moisture content</td> <td>Copra with low moisture content of 12-14%</td> <td>No premiums provided</td> <td>Premium provided up to However, the copra buyer later stopped this practice. The setting of moisture content of copra was arbitrary because of the absence of moisture meter.</td> </table> <br> <br> <br> <b>FARMER S COMMENTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS</b><br> <p>The PCA programs on rehabilitation and replanting, aside from assistance in farm diversification programs through intercropping and livestock dispersal are well appreciated. It is a recognized fact that PCA has been able to help the coconut industry tremendously through the above programs; therefore, these programs should be continued. In addition, PCA should be able to help farmers in relation to copra prices. The ideal price should not be lowered than P12/kg. of copra, as break-even is attained at the price of P7/kg. other deductions from copra prices, such as 3% for dust, should be removed. Due to the success of the PCA program on intercropping, the same farmer is now one of the participants of a corn - intercropping program involving 1½ hectare of his coconut farm, a joint project of Kasanyangan Foundation, Inc. (KFI), and NGO, DA and PCA. The farmer also wishes to acknowledge the efforts of PCA field men in helping the coconut farmers.</p> <br> <br> <b>PCA-REGION V  ALBAY</b><br> <b>RESTITUTO BASQUIÑES</b><br> <i>Polangui, Albay</i><br> <p>Through hard work and perseverance, Restituto Basquiñes turned his three-hectare farm into a productive plantation for sugar cane, pili and coconut.</p> <p>For this, he received a plaque from President Macapagal-Arroyo as national awardee for  Most Outstanding Farmer during the Gawad Saka Coco-based System awards ceremony in 2002.</p> <p>But more than the award, Basquiñes of Barangay Gamot, became more famous after presenting the products he makes from crops he harvests --- the panutsa and the santan. Panutsa or calamay in Bicol dialect, is one of the province s delicacies. It is made of hardened sugarcane juice and coconut milk shaped in a coconut shell.</p> <p>pIt is a key ingredient in making candies and pastries here. It is used as substitute for sugar. Santan, on the other hand, is made from coconut milk, sugar cane juice and pili kernel. It is also popularly known as coco jam --- suited for rice cakes and even used as bread filling. Santan is a new product of Basquiñes, unlike the panutsa which is a three-generation-old enterprise.</p> <p>Basquiñes says making panutsa or calamay was his grandparent s business in 1920 s. This was handed down to his parents who, in turn, gave it to him as a gift when he got married. The cooking process according to Basquiñes, takes about two and a half hours. Before producing panutsa and santan making, he sold copra because the only trees planted on his lot at that time were coconut trees and sugarcane.</p> <p>To maximize the use of the land and to increase production, Philippine Coconut Authority provincial manager Alfredo Rillo introduced the intercropping program under coconut trees, which he says, improves the farmer s livelihood.</p> <p>Basquiñes claims the knowledge improved his harvest of other crops like pili, ginger and mongo beans. Thus, it was in year 2002 when the PCA recommended him for the award. With the recognition the santan got during the occasion, he was encouraged to produce the food item that he used to make only for the consumption of the family and his friends.</p> <p>The santan, along with the panutsa, is being patronized by Bicolanos and even by local and foreign tourist who visit Albay province because it is naturally processed and there are no preservatives. The product have a shelf life of about two weeks, are available in the market and even in the PCA office.</p> <p>Santan, in a plastic jar, costs only P50 while the panutsa costs P30. According to Basquiñes, he gets bulk orders for panutsa and santan during Lenten and Yuletide seasons. Basquiñes supplies at least 10 sacks of panutsa a week to Rosario Fortem, one of the biggest suppliers of panutsa of the different public markets in Albay province.  I hope I can serve a bigger market for my sweet delicacies in the future, Basquiñes said with a sweet smile.</p> <br> <hr> <br> <b>PCA - REGION XI  DAVAO</b><br> <b>ROBERTO SAB </b><br> <i>Compostela Valley</i><br> <p>Mr. Roberto Sab known as Berting to his fellow SCFO members was once a worker of the Sarmiento Logging Company and was able to acquire an area of six hectares rolling land before the logging company ceased its operation in 1990 s. His area is located right after the Sarmiento Logging Compound at the hillside of Cabinuangan, New Bataan. He acquired the land when he was still single and fully developed it when he got married to Emeteria Luengo. They were blessed with five daughters whom are now all degree holders.</p> <p>Berting planted his area with abaca, coconut and coffee at the start. He also planted it with different fruit trees like lanzones, durian, and other fruits. Presently, the area is fully planted with coconuts at a density of 100 per hectare and has 500 bearing coconut trees, 200 bearing lanzones, 1.0 hectare cardava banana and 2.0 hectares coffee. This farmer is really known for his industriousness and resourcefulness working in the farm before sunrise and after sunset.</p> <p>In 1993, this farmer received free fertilizers from PCA under the SCFDP program. Before the rehabilitation project, he got only 1,000 kgs. of copra but after a year he was able to get 3,000 kgs. of copra. Hitting a good price of copra, he was able to build a house at the Poblacion, where the family resides now. Berting also did coconut sustainable nutrient program for coconut using flemingia which was learned during a field trip to Codilla s Farm at Monkayo.</p> <p>He planted flemingia by rows in contour method which not only supplied nitrogen but also serves as a soil erosion control in his rolling land. He maintained regular cutting of the flemingia and mulch it to the coconut and fruit trees. For four years he received fertilizers which was good only for one hectare allocation so he just add salt to be able to accommodate all the coconut palms. After the termination of SCFDP he continued the salt fertilization which was also a program of the Cabinuangan Small Coconut Farmers Cooperatives where he is an active member.</p> <p>He also raised livestock such as carabaos, pigs, goats and chickens. He had already sold 20 carabaos since he raised them and he always has 3-4 fattening pigs and sow. He also used the goats and chickens for consumption.</p> <p>His income from the farm made him able to send his children to school aided with the meager honorarium of his wife as daycare worker in late 1980 s and 1990 s.</p> <br> <hr> <br> <b>PCA - REGION XI  DAVAO</b><br> <b>A SMALL COOPERATIVE STORY</b><br> <i>San Isidro, Kaputian, Davao</i><br> <p>On November 12, 1988, the San Isidro SCFO of San Isidro, Kaputian, IGCS, Davao was formally organized with a membership of 25. The members have negative attitude on cooperative due to past experiences with the Samahang Nayon. With PCA s encouragement, the organization had started self-financed projects like piglet dispersal, fruit trees nursery, sari-sari store and lending with total capital of only P4,000.00. To exempt from taxes, the SCFO had registered with CDA in the name San Isidro Small Coconut Farmers Development Cooperative on December 2, 1992. The Coop then started coco charcoal marketing and cattle dispersal.</p> <p>The PCA had assisted the cooperative in organizing, technical assistance, paper works, recording, linkages, project proposal, annual report preparation and more. With the failure and death of other cooperatives in the same barangay and nearby barangays, the San Isidro SCFDC survived and gave pride to the barangay after receiving awards and recognition from PCA and form the Municipality of Kaputian. The cooperative s survival and growth is a success of small coconut farmers who shared and labored for the undertaking.</p> <p>Today, the San Isidro SCFDC is a viable entity with a total membership of 72 and a total assets of P250,000.00 without any outside obligation. The cooperative anniversary is celebrated every 22nd day of November with program and sports competition.</p> <br> <hr> <br> <b>PCA - REGION XI  DAVAO</b><br> <b>EDUARDO DE VERA</b><br> <i>Balingaeng, Tugbok District, Davao</i><br> <p>He was a native of Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija. He finished his Bachelor of Science in Commerce major in Management in 1978 at the College of Immaculate Conception. Determined to be somebody someday, he went abroad and worked as cashier in a Food Chain Company in Rijad, Saudi Arabia. He met Fe Baviera a registered nurse in Rijad and got married in 1986. Presently, they have two children, Krissy Daryll 15 and John Cyrus 6, both studying at Holy Child of Davao in Mintal. In 1989, when the company where he was working encountered some problems coupled with the about to explode Gulf War, they decided to return in their homeland. They engaged in rice farming and retail business however, it was not successful.</p> <p>Sometime in 1995, they migrated in Davao City and started cultivating their newly acquired 5 hectares farm planted with 156 coconut trees, situated in Balingaeng, Tugbok District. He developed the area by planting several intercrops such as durian, lanzones, rambutan, banana, raised cattle and fowls. The presence of spring water encouraged him to develop a one hectare portion of his farm to into a Riceland.</p> <p>He played a vital role in organizing Balingaeng SCFO in 1996, was then elected president which he maintained up to the present. A natural born leader, he was also elected president of Balingaeng Fruit Farmers Organization, Vice-Chairman  Tugbok District Farmers Federation, Acting Chairman  MAFC Tugbok, Auditor  Tugbok District Banana Council and Business Manager  IPM Rice Organization. His wife Fe, was also involved in social and spiritual activities, she being a Sunday School Teacher of Assemblies of God Fellowship which he also administrates.</p> <p>When the Maunlad Program was launched in Balingaeng in 1999, his farm was selected as one of the cluster farms. He was given additional planting materials such as durina, lanzones and mangosteen, 2 piglets which presently raised to 53 heads and a minimal amount for fishpond development. Today, after few years of hardwork and sacrifices. Mr. Eduardo de Vera, started to gain the fruits of his success as shown in the table below.</p> <br> <b>2002 FARM INCOME</b><br> <table cellspacing=2 cellpadding=2 border=1> <tr align=center> <td ><b>CROP</b></td><td colspan=2><b>No. of Hills/Head</b></td><td><b>Production</b></td><td><b>Sales</td><td><b>Expenses</b></td><td><b>Net Income</b></td> </tr> <tr align=center> <td>&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td><b>Productive</b></td><td><b>Non Productive</b></td><td>&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td><b>(peso)</b></td><td><b>(peso)</b></td><td><b>(peso)</b></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Coconut</td><td>156</td><td>&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td>12400 nts</td><td>37200</td><td>4000</td><td>33200</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Durian</td><td>30</td><td>120</td><td>320 kgs</td><td>9600</td><td>2000</td><td>7600</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Lanzones</td><td>13</td><td>100</td><td>800 kgs</td><td>12000</td><td>1200</td><td>10800</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Rambutan</td><td>60</td><td>&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td>2400 kgs</td><td>31200</td><td>2000</td><td>29200</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Banana</td><td>100</td><td>&nbsp;&nbsp;</td></td>&nbsp;&nbsp;<td></td><td>&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;&nbsp;</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Rice</td><td>1.0 ha.</td><td>&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td>60 bgs.</td><td>24600</td><td>14000</td><td>10600</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Mangosteen</td><td>&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td>48</td><td>&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;&nbsp;</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Cattle</td><td>5 hds.</td><td>&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td>1 head</td><td>21500</td><td>100</td><td>21400</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Swine</td><td>53 hds.</td><td>&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td>20 heads</td><td>50622</td><td>40000</td><td>10622</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Chicken</td><td>50 hds.</td><td>&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td>30 heads</td><td>2550</td><td>550</td><td>2000</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Tilapia</td><td>1000 flgs.</td><td>&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td>50 kilos</td><td>2500</td><td>900</td><td>1600</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Hito</td><td>2500 flgs.</td><td>&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td>30 kilos</td><td>1800</td><td>700</td><td>1100</td> </tr> <tr> <td><b>TOTAL</b></td><td>&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td><b>193,572</b></td><td><b>65,450</b></td><td><b>128,122</b></td> </tr> </table> <br> <hr> <br> <b>PCA - REGION XI  DAVAO</b><br> <br> <b>A Lazy Man s Crop : A Key to Diversified Farming</b><br> <p>Coconut is branded as a lazy man s crop because of a nation that coconut farmers just stay idle during the entire harvest cycle waiting for the mature nuts to fall to the ground then processed in to copra or sold as whole nuts to convert them to cash. What with unstable copra price, high labor cost and indiscriminate cutting . . . it is indeed a lazy man s crop.</p> <p>But not for Paquito Paana of Bago Nalum who s a consistent hardworking coconut farmer. In 1989, his barely two-hectare coconut farm accounted only for some 137 coconut trees. Despite the low production output of 20-30 nuts per tree per year from hi rhino-beetle infested palms, he decided to maintain and cultivate the lowly crop.</p> <p>He joined the Baliok Small Coconut Farmers Organization (BASFO) and became a fertilizer recipient for 4 years under the PCA SCFDP Rehabilitation program. Some of his coconut trees that were severely infested by rhinoceros beetles were cut then when he voluntarily offered to set up GMF-treated log traps in the area as recommended by the PCA. He even convinced the neighboring coconut farmers to set multiplier log traps for a more effective control against the damaging pest.</p> <p>A very receptive farmer, he never fails to participate in every farmer meetings, seminars and trainings to intensify his farming practices and increase farm productivity. The knowledge and technologies he learned are being translated into his farm effectively. He grabs every opportunity introduced or extended to him. He s not vocal or boastful though but his coconut farm speaks loudly of himself.</p> <p>Within his coconut farm, the existing lacatan bananas give that additional source of weekly income while participating in the in the banana rehab-project, following the clean culture of disposing diseased, infected banana plantings and replacing them with tissue cultured planting materials. He is also a participant in the Maunlad Program where he has established fruit intercrops like mango, durian, mangosteen, lanzones and rambutan.</p> <p>He has successfully raised and dispersed Kabir chicken and still continues to improve his backyard poultry stock. As an SCFO member he availed of their self-financed hog raising and dispersal livelihood project having 2 sows and 7 gilts in his pen. He also planted 100 Tacunan/Catigan coconut seedlings in his vacant lot.</p> <p>For Paquito, the unimpressive lazy man s crop has challenged (compelled) him to diversify his coconut farm with multiple crops ranging from fruit trees, vegetables, cash crops, livestock and poultry to boost his meager income. Now he has acquired that draft animal he used to hire before. He was able to put up a sari-sari store near his farmhouse that is serving the neighborhood.</p> <p>The improvement may be small but he s satisfied and proud. He is confident though that he will eventually reap the fruits of his labor, a legacy he can hand down to his children because he knew he has never been lazy in farming his diversified coconut farm.</p> <br> <hr> <br> <b>PCA - REGION XI  DAVAO</b><br> <br> <b>A Receptive Maunlad Farmer</b><br> <p>Leopoldo N. Castro, a former teacher of Holy Cross of Caburan and a retired Sanguniang Bayan Secretary of the municipality of the Jose Abad Santos, Davao del Sur, had acquired a 2 hectare farm in 1967 which is located at the Sitio Pulang Lupa, Caburan Small, Jose Abad Santos, Davao Sur.</p> <p>Mr. Castro with his family cultivated his long abandoned property and they planted it with coconuts. With the help of technicians of the Philippine Coconut Authority, the farmer had joined the Small Coconut Farms Development Program (SCFDP). He was a recipient of 14 bags of fertilizers for coconuts. The farmer applied the fertilizer religiously for four (4) consecutive years. The farmer found out that an increase of the production was evident, from 800 kilos of copra per hectare per year to 1,600 kilos of copra per hectare per year. A gross annual income from P16,000.00 to P32,000.00.</p> <p>With the continued assistance from the technicians of the PCA, the farmer was able to gain more knowledge through the Maunlad na Niyugan Tugon sa Kahirapan Program (MNTK). Mr Castro was able to apply the following technologies to increase the income form his present income to P100,000.00.</p> <p>He planted intercrops like banana, mango, lanzones and marang. He used flemingia in contour lines. He mulched his coconuts and fruit trees. For prevention of the rhino beetle infestation, he burned dead coco trunks and debris. He also raised pigs, chicken and horse. For drying his copra, he constructed a semi-direct copra drier.</p> <p>The farmer is happily married to Maria Elsa with seven (7) children, five (5) females and two (2) males and with eight (8) grand children. With the blessings of God, all his children now are professionals.</p> <br> <hr> <br> <b>PCA - REGION XI  DAVAO</b><br> <br> <b>The Rise of Lawa ARC</b><br> <p>Lawa Workers Multi-Purpose Cooperative is an organization of 106 agrarian reform beneficiaries. It was organized on March 10, 1993 and was duly registered with the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) on September 1, 1993. Ninety eight percent (98%) of the membership belongs to the Manobo tribe.</p> <p>On September 23, 1993, the government through the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) awarded 318 hectares of agricultural land fully planted with coconuts under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP). This plantation was once owned by the Jesuit priests.</p> <p>The cooperative annually produced 384 tons of copra, 90.76 tons of lacatan banana, 20 tons of cardava banana, 25 tons of corn and two (2) tons of mango. The farm produce were transported/shipped to Davao City, Gen. Santos City and Manila. The cooperative owned one (1) unit of shallow tube well with generator pump servicing 60 hectares. The services offered by the cooperative to members are as follows: commissary store, credit and marketing facilities.</p> <p>On August 28, 2001, the integrated Coconut Processing Plant was constructed with a capacity of 10,000 nuts daily. Two (2) products were produced such as refined coconut oil and copra meal. The project was funded by DAR-UNDP/LBP with a total project cost of P3.1 million.</p> <p>At present, a resort-type Multi-Purpose Training Center is constructed to cater to the training needs of all the organization in the municipality. The Spanish Government with a project cost of P1.8 million funded the project.</p> <p>The Department of Agriculture, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) are assisting the cooperative in attaining its goal towards self-sufficiency. Various capability enhancement trainings and seminars were conducted by the abovementioned institutions. The cooperative is also a recipient of PCA s Small Coconut Farm Development Program (SCFDP) which greatly help in the increase of their copra production. Also, they had availed the 25-hectare replanting program in which the coconuts are now in its bearing stage.</p> <p>The cooperative has now reached a P10,460,191.00 worth of assets. But still the farmer-beneficiaries continue to develop their farm by planting papaya, coffee, calamansi and other fruit trees.</p> <br> <hr> <br> <b>PCA - REGION XI  DAVAO</b><br> <br> <b>The Treasure</b><br> <p>It was in 1971, when Tirso  Tirs Algar, and Manuela  Maning Montes established their nest at Sitio Cambilawa, Inambatan, Monkayo, Davao, now Compostela Valley, a place well known for its vast gold resources.</p> <p>The couple started cultivating their 1.5 has. Land and planted some cash crops such as vegetables and raised goats and chickens. After a couple of months and years, they already harvested the crops they planted and sell it to the town s public market. In 1978, peace and order situation in the area became worse, the couple together with their only son Walter decided to move to Poblacion Monkayo to secure their lives and put up a small sari-sari store with only around P3,000.00 as starting capital. Fortunately after a couple of years, the small sari-sari store became a mini grocery in the town with many suki.</p> <p>In 1998, they bought a four (4.0) hectares land in San Roque, Inambatan, Monkayo, where two hectares were planted with 200 coconut trees and two hills bearing lanzones and the other two hectares was left as an open area. His harvest then was only 3,000.00 nuts per harvest at 4 months cycle. But Nong Tirso was very positive he can develop the area. He attended seminars sponsored by different Gos and NGOs. He also visited several developed coconut areas in Monkayo.</p> <p>During the seminars conducted by the PCA in 1994, Nong Tirso decided to join the Small Coconut Farmers Organization in Pob. Monkayo. As a member, he received free fertilizers from PCA for four (4) consecutive years. At the same time, he planted Flemengia trees along the rows of the coconut (at 1 meter from the base of the coconut on both sides) which he copied from Dodong Codilla, a successful farmer in Union, Monkayo.</p> <p>The Flemengia becomes a steady source of organic fertilizers every three to four months. After several months of using the combination of fertilizers from PCA and mulching with flemengia cuttings, the coconut leaves which were yellowish before become green and develop more nuts. This encouraged him even more, so he intercropped his coconuts with Cardava bananas. Care and maintenance was done with the help of a paid laborer, with the Flemengia cuttings being also mulched to the bananas.</p> <p>His search for improvement did not end there. In 1995, he availed of the  Plant Now Pay Later program of the Municipal Agriculture Office and was granted 150 seedlings lanzones and 50 seedlings durian. He also bought additional grafted lanzones to fill the area. In 1997, he received 200 coconut seedlings from the IPM FFS nursery which he planted to the two hectares open area.</p> <p>From the coconut he fertilized, from 3,000 nuts he used to harvest/4 months cycle, it keeps on increasing and today he harvested 7,500 nuts for 3 months cycle, aside from the coconut seedlings he planted in 1997 which started bearing. In his Cardava Banana, even at an average price of P1.80 per kilo he will earn P4,500.00 to P5,000.00 per month. Is he still using commercial fertilizer for his coconut and intercrops? No, according to him, flemengia can already supply nitrogen requirements but he is also using salt for his coconut. So when Banana Plantation Canvasser came to him, Nong Tirso will say,  If you want my area give me P8,000,000.00 for my 12 hectares crop . His price is so high because according to him, it is already a treasure that cannot be found in Mt. Diwalwal, but it is right here in my four has. area in Inambatan, Monkayo, Compostela Valley. What we only need is perseverance, positive thinking, love to plant, small capital and effort, and most specially ask the blessings from the Almighty God.</p> <br> <hr> <br> <b>PCA - REGION XI  DAVAO</b><br> <b>Mr. Pedro Ancla</b><br> <i>Baguio District</i><br> <p>Among the successful farmers of Baguio District, Mr. Pedro Ancla has gone far beyond his dream of providing the best for his family. A loving husband, and loving father of his 11 children. The successful farmer, devoted his time efficiently not only to his farm and his family, but indeed he also shared his might and talent to his Barangay and neighborhood.</p> <p>In 1955, Mr. Ancla left Loboc, Bohol with his elder brother and tried his fortune in Baguio District where he met his partner-in-life, a very pretty young lady in the name of Ms. Gerarda Abantes. By 1956, he got married with this girl and started the real quest for life as a family man. He begun his struggle as tenant to a 2-hectare land owned by a good friend, a prominent Chinese businessman of the place that time, and remain as tenant until late 1972, when he bought these piece of land from his good friend at only P800.00. His success can be attributed to the disaster that razed his residence to ground in 1963 that made him more determined and careful than ever that s why from that time on, he became successful in all his endeavors.</p> <p>Life from him has been a mixture of success and miseries but the good thing was he never faltered from his determination. He continued developing his farmland by planting with coffee, coconut, bananas, corn, cassavas and other fruit bearing trees. Mr. Ancla is a very kin observer and happened to be courageous to apply to his farm whatever technologies he learned. He kept on establishing contacts with GO s and NGO s whom he believed could provide assistance to his endeavor. Among these agencies that given him the opportunity to grow more is the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), who transformed his farmland into a very productive enterprise. Until now, he is still doing his best trying to share his fortune to his neighborhood and to the community. He is very accommodating to anybody or any group who wanted to visit his farm.</p> <p>The hardworking Mr. Pedro Ancla, by now can be considered a very fulfilled farmer and a very fulfilled public servant. As a fulfilled farmer, he made it to the top because his farm can generate a gross in come as much as PhP 700,000.00 to nearly a million a year. This fact can be well explained by looking how he raised his 11 children to finish their college studies and made them all professionals, that s why he can be called a successful father. As a successful public servant, his records will show that he became a Barangay Councilor for 5 consecutive terms and maintained the no. 1 spot in the Council. Until this time, the barangay people looked up to him with high regard as a monumental figure in public service.</p> <p>Among the many awards he and his family received were as follows:</p> <ul> <li>Most Outstanding Farmer (PCA)  1999 <li>Model Family (Davao City wide) - 1995 <li>Most Outstanding Farmer (DA)  1992 <li>Outstanding Model Parent - 1990 </ul> <p>Part of his achievements, the profession of his children:</p> <ul> <li>Victoria A. Café, Elsa A. Ancla, Liza A. Ancla - Doctor of Optometry <li>Albert A. Ancla, Alfredo A. Ancla, Pedro A. Ancla, Jr.  Civil, Electrical, Automotive Engineers respectively; <li>Venus A. Ancla  Commerce Graduate <li>Virginia A. Sempio  AB Economics Graduate <li>Alex A. Ancla  General Radio and Communication Operator <li>Paul A. Ancla, Gerald Kenn A. Ancla  fresh graduates and newly employed </ul> <p>All of these children made their own way of living and Mr. Ancla and wife considered it their greatest achievement in life.</p> <BR><BR> <hr height=1> <table> <tr> <td colspan=3> <table border=0 cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 align=center> <tr> <td> <img src=slogan.gif height="60"> </td> <td>© 2005. All Right Reserved <br><font color=blue><b>Philippine Coconut Authority</b></font><br> Elliptical Road, Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines<br> (0632) 928-8741 to 45<br> Email: <a href=mailto:pca_cpo@yahoo.com.ph>pca_cpo@yahoo.com.ph</a> </td> </tr> </table> </td> </tr> </table> </body> </html>