Senator Kiko Pangilinan urged the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon to revive a program during the administration of the late former President Benigno Aquino III, under which the agency purchased P4 billion worth of coco coir annually from the domestic coconut industry.
According to Pangilinan, reviving the program provides the needed market industry for coconut farmers and helps strengthen the struggling coconut industry.
“The program was worth P4 billion during my watch at binibili directly sa coconut industry.”
“Please request the secretary to submit his position paper on the previous program where public works was endorsing, supporting, using coco coir. The program was worth P4 billion during my watch at binibili directly sa coconut industry,” the veteran legislator said, addressing the DPWH representative during the hearing of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food, and Agrarian Reform.
The seasoned lawmaker also indicated that he intends to revisit the matter during the agency’s upcoming budget deliberations and is expecting a clear position and implementation plan from the department should it decide to revive the initiative.
The senator served as the chairperson of the boards of the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) and the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) from 2014 to 2015 when he was appointed as Presidential Assistant for Food Security and Agricultural Modernization under the late former President Aquino III’s administration.
During his term and that of former DPWH Secretary Rogelio Singson, the agency turned to coco coir to control soil erosion, improve slope stabilization, and support hydroseeding.
“I want to see your plan.”
“Tatanungin ko yun sa budget ninyo itong darating na September, October. Dapat may sagot na,” Pangilinan added. “Kung ang sagot is yes, ano plano niyo? I want to see your plan.”
“Four billion (pesos) ‘yun bumabalik sa industriya ng magniniyog,” he pointed out, stressing that women in communities also earn between P500 and P1,000 in coco coir processing.
The hearing also discussed Senate Bill No. 1457, or the Act Strengthening Coconut Farmers Participation in the Utilization of the Coconut Farmers and Industry Trust Fund (CFITF), and Senate Resolution No. 23 on the CFITF.
The discussions centered on proposed amendments to Republic Act No. 11524, the law that established the CFITF.
