Manila: Some 500 coconut farmers from two municipalities of Antique province will benefit from the initial rollout of the medical mission by the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA).

According to Philippines News Agency, Gregory Te±oso III, PCA Division Chief I for Aklan-Antique, stated that the Coconut Farmers and Industry Plan-DuMobile Health Services Run under the Coconut Farmers and Industry Plan will be held at the Municipal Gymnasium of Patnongon on June 22 to 23, and at the Evacuation Center in San Remigio on June 25 to 26. The medical mission aims to provide essential health services to coconut farmers residing in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas.

Last year, the PCA Antique facilitated medical services for 1,110 coconut farmers through three medical missions conducted within the province. Te±oso also mentioned that the Antique provincial board has authorized Governor Paolo Everardo Javier to enter into a memorandum of agreement with the PCA. This agreement is set to implement the PCA's health and medical program for farmers and their families at the Angel Salazar Memorial General Hospital (ASMGH) in San Jose de Buenavista.

Through this agreement, registered farmers with the National Coconut Farmers Registry System (NCFRS) or their family members can avail themselves of hospital confinement, laboratory, and treatment services up to the amount of PHP40,000 every three months as needed. Additionally, they are entitled to PHP5,000 worth of medicines as part of post-confinement medical assistance.

Te±oso added that efforts are underway to also secure accreditation for the Antique Medical Center (AMC), a private hospital in San Jose de Buenavista. He expressed optimism that the memorandum of agreement signing with both ASMGH and AMC will be completed within the month, allowing coconut farmers to benefit from these services promptly. There are currently 53,254 farmers in Antique registered with the NCFRS.