A Regional Inter-Agency Technical Committee (RIATC) meeting was held recently as part of the periodic monitoring and evaluation of the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan (CFIDP) implementation.
Organized by the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) - Region IV, the RIATC was conducted face-to-face in Tayabas City, Quezon for CALABARZON and virtually via zoom for MIMAROPA.
The Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD) attended the said meeting with other implementing agencies (IA).
PCA Region IV Regional Manager Bibiano Concibido, Jr. welcomed the partner agencies. He emphasized that sharing experiences and best practices among the IAs will aid in developing strategies for enhancing the CFIDP implementation.
Meanwhile, PCA Board Luzon Director Flor Lozado, who was also present during the CALABARZON meeting, recognized the importance of each agency towards the successful execution of CFIDP. He also echoed some experiences of farmers and appealed to the IAs to patiently help and guide the farmers who are availing themselves of any service from the program.
During the said meetings, representatives from the Crops Research Division of DOST-PCAARRD, Ms. Rhesa Miren A. Ignacio and Mr. Edmerson Z. Calungsod, presented the 2022 accomplishments of the Coconut Hybridization Program (CHP) Research Component. This five-year program funds research and development (R&D) projects on coconut hybridization through the 5% allocation from the Trust Fund as mandated by the Republic Act No. 11524 or the Coconut Farmers and Industry Trust Fund Act.
For Region IV, two projects on varietal improvement and selection led by the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) were approved for funding last 2022.
DOST-PCAARRD, through CHP, is expected to fund more hybridization R&D projects from Region IV on the production of planting materials; SMART farming technologies; and technology transfer and promotion.