The Philippine Coconut Authority will fast-track its planting and replanting program and open new lands to coconut farming this year, its Administrator Oscar Garin said.

Garin, who was appointed to head the PCA only last week, said in a statement issued by the Department of Agriculture that through these programs, he is aiming to uplift the economic status of coconut farmers.

The former Iloilo congressman, whose family owns the model Garin Farms in Guimbal, Iloilo, said that with the upsurge in demand for various traditional and newly-emerging coconut products such as virgin coconut oil, coco bio-diesel and geo-textiles, the Philippines should be able to increase production to meet such demand.

This brings us to the basic, we need to plant more coconuts, he said.

Garin said he will continue the implementation of the programs on the use of coconut oil as bio-fuel, product quality standards and enhancement of international trade linkages started by his predecessor, now Agriculture Undersecretary Jesus Emmanuel Paras.

Garin himself has been engaged in the coconut business for 18 years, producing virgin coconut oil and coconut fiber products.

At his farm in Iloilo, he has integrated coconut products in his other business operations, mixing coco peat with poultry and hog manure to produce bio-fertilizer and even using coco cream in pandesal production.*NLG

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