Antique: Farmers from this province will plant 254,000 coconut seedlings this year to support the massive planting program of the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA). According to Philippines News Agency, PCA Division Chief I for Antique and Aklan, Gregory Te±oso III, announced that they are currently distributing 127,000 seedlings to farmers in the island municipality of Caluya. An additional 127,000 seedlings are set to be released to coconut farmers on the mainland next month.
Te±oso emphasized the importance of the initiative, encouraging farmers to participate actively in the coconut planting effort, which aims to achieve a target of planting 100 million seedlings by 2028 under the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan. Last year, the province successfully planted 101,000 coconut seedlings as part of this ongoing effort.
In related events, Coconut Production Regulatory Officer Mikee Servano acknowledged the critical role of coconut farmers, referring to them as "silent heroes" during the kickoff ceremony of the National Coconut Week celebration held in the province. She highlighted the farmers' resilience and pride in their work.
An exhibit showcasing a variety of coconut products and by-products, ranging from fresh to processed, has also been launched at the CityMall in San Jose de Buenavista. This exhibition will continue until August 16, providing a platform for local coconut farmers to display their products.
