1 week ago
8
Upgrade to High-Speed Internet for only ₱1499/month!
Enjoy up to 100 Mbps fiber broadband, perfect for browsing, streaming, and gaming.
Visit Suniway.ph to learn
CAGAYAN DE ORO, Philippines – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday, April 22, launched an upgraded port and new agricultural facilities in Misamis Oriental, including a coconut processing plant tied to the government’s plan to plant at least 100 million coconut trees nationwide within the next three years.
The tree-planting program, led by the Department of Agriculture (DA), is part of a broader push to expand coconut production and scale up value-added processing across the country.
Agriculture Undersecretary Roger Navarro said the DA’s goal is to plant 100 million coconut trees by the end of Marcos’ office term in 2028.
Marcos visited Balingasag town to inaugurate the Integrated Coconut Processing Facility (ICPF) and the Rice Processing System II, projects aimed at curbing post-harvest losses and improving farm incomes.
The ICPF is a P350-million facility designed to produce virgin coconut oil, coconut flour, and coconut water. The project, which would be overseen by the First Community Cooperative (FICCO), also aims to help in doubling farm gate prices from P8 to P18 per nut.
Marcos noted an increasing international demand for coconut oil and water, particularly in Europe.
“Nagugulat ako sa galing ng ating magsasaka. Wala tayong ginawa, ang pamahalaan, wala tayong ginawa para tulungan ang coconut farmer. Ngayon lang natin sila tinutulungan. Ngunit kahit walang tulong, number 2 tayo sa buong mundo sa coconut product. Ganyan kaganda ang produktong coconut; ganyan kagaling ang ating mga kooperatiba,” said Marcos.
(I’m amazed by how good our farmers are. The government didn’t do anything to help coconut farmers before. It’s only now that we are helping them. Despite the lack of support, we’re number two in the world in coconut products. That’s how excellent our coconut products are, and that’s how capable our cooperatives are.)
Marcos said the government would establish more coconut processing centers across the country, aligning with his administration’s broader agricultural modernization efforts.
He stressed the importance of agriculture in national development. “Bawat punla, puno, bunga ay sumasailalim sa pagsisikap, sakripisyo at tagumpay ng bawat Pilipinong magsasaka,” he said.
(Every seedling, tree, and fruit comes from the effort, sacrifice, and triumph of every Filipino farmer.)
He lauded Misamis Oriental for its productive harvests in corn, rice, coconut, and bananas, commodities that are exported.
“Lumago ang agrikultura ng Misamis Oriental nang 4.6% sa nakaraang taon at ikalawa sa pinakamabilis ang pag-unlad sa Northern Mindanao,” he said.
(Agriculture in Misamis Oriental grew by 4.6% last year and was the second fastest-growing in Northern Mindanao.)
Marcos said his visit to the province, particularly to the towns of Balingasag and Balingoan, was a show of support for farmers and a sign of the government’s commitment to agricultural development.
He said new agricultural machinery will help farmers speed up harvesting and boost productivity, and he encouraged the sector to embrace modern technologies.
Marcos said the government has built an additional 70 kilometers of farm-to-market roads and bridges, benefiting over 16,000 families in the region.
DA-Northern Mindanao Director Jose Apollo Pacamalan said the Misamis Oriental facility is expected to support coconut farmers by enabling diversified production and improved market access.
Meanwhile, the rice system includes a multi-stage mill and four recirculating dryers to enhance productivity and reduce grain wastage. Both facilities form part of a DA program to spur rural employment and cut poverty to single digits by 2028.
The agriculture department has allocated over P123 million to support the initiatives, including a nearly P91 million for a farm-to-market road in Naawan and P32 million for machinery, equipment, and farm inputs. The infrastructure and support are intended to strengthen rural economies, improve food security, and promote inclusive growth in Mindanao.
Upgraded port
Also on Tuesday, Marcos led the inauguration of the expanded Balingoan port in eastern Misamis Oriental, a strategic transport link connecting mainland Mindanao to the island province of Camiguin.
The upgraded port features a modern two-story passenger terminal with 500-seat capacity, over 10,000 square meters of cargo handling space, and a new gate complex to streamline traffic and enhance security.
The expansion is expected to boost trade, tourism, and regional economic activity in Northern MIndanao.
Camiguin Island, which depends heavily on Balingoan port, posted an 11% economic growth rate in 2023, which was the fastest among all provinces and cities in Mindanao, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
The island province, made up of five municipalities and known for its volcanic landscapes and beaches, continues to show strong growth potential despite its geographic and demographic limitations.
Despite being Northern Mindanao’s smallest province with a land area of 241 square kilometers and a population of 92,808, Camiguin outpaced larger provinces such as Misamis Occidental and Misamis Oriental, which grew by 6.7% and 6.3%, respectively. – Rappler.com
