Gov. George Arnaiz denied speculations he was giving special treatment to planters in Pamplona, his hometown, in the distribution of hybrid coco seed nuts.

Arnaiz made the clarification right after the Philippine Coconut Authority turned over Thursday more than 3,000 coco seed nuts to the Oriental Negros government that later gave it to the coconut planters.

The governor explained that he chairs the committee responsible for distribution, but stressed that, he had not intervened in the selection of applicants qualified to receive the coco seed nuts.

Planters or farmers who could pay cash are given priority because the province needs the money to replenish the stocks, Arnaiz said.

He said the program had just been implemented and for it to succeed, funds must be available for purchase additional seeds.

He added the province had released P4 million, half of which was used to buy the seed nuts distributed Thursday.

Carlos Carpio, PCA deputy administrator for research, development, and operations, joined Arnaiz at the turnover ceremony.

Carpio lauded the PCA provincial office and the provincial government for their massive coconut planting and replanting program.

Nationwide, he said, only Oriental Negros and North Cotabato have the program. Oriental Negros is the 27th major producer of coconut among the 68 provinces of the country. Carpio said it would not be difficult for Oriental Negros to land among the top 12 coconut producers in the country if the program succeeds and sustained.*JG

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