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PCA NEEDS P1.89 B TO PRODUCE ADDITIONAL 270,000 MT OF COPRA FOR 2009 – VALUED AT P6.75 B The Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) has embarked on a general plan for a 4-year production program beginning 2008 to 2011 to recover lost production due to calamities and secure supply needs for domestic, international markets and biofuel requirement. PCA Administrator Oscar G. Garin bared that the projected cost of P1.89 B will insure the production of 270,000 MT of copra in the first year of 2009. Production of 3,070,000 metric tons will follow in 2010 and thereafter to 3,540,000 by yearly 2012. The production plan shall involve 1.35 million hectares with a yearly increment of 25% equivalent to 200 kg of additional copra per hectare. The value of production in copra terms will average at P25,000.00 per metric ton a year or a total of P6.75 Billion. The overall program is further projected to generate additional 1.35 million jobs. The main concern of PCA is the release of the budget requirement specially in the light of the Cabinet instruction to download P1B for the purpose. Upon the final approval of the Program by the PCA Governing Board and the confirmation of the needed budget or money, PCA shall launch the program immediately. He added that the projected production program shall focus mainly with fertilization using common salt or sodium chloride (NaCl) which is the major nutrient element for coconut trees. The cost of fertilization is P1,400 per hectare. As PCA being the field implementor and not as the funding agency, the Authority does not issue Certificate of Availability of Funds. He said that under this program, PCA shall be the main field implementor and extension service provider, while the expected funding will all come from other agencies which committed to provide the budget and the necessary certificate of availability of funds. Under this program, no fund is directly remitted to PCA as all program disbursements such as the cost of fertilizer shall be paid by the funding agency. To clarify some apprehensions from some sectors, the Administrator is confident that the procurement of the volume of salt will be facilitated without delay with the present provisions of the reformed rules on public bidding, which allow award of contract even to a single eligible complying and responsive bidder. COCONUT MEDIA SERVICE
April 07, 2008
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