The Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) is set to implement “big projects” intended to bolster the coconut industry in Bohol which provides livelihood to over 200,000 Boholanos.

Emiliano Romero, Bohol PCA manager, said that coconut farmers in the province have already grown coconuts across 10,000 hectares of land since 2013 and will continue to plant the fruit trees in anticipation of the projects.

Romero cited the construction of a coconut-based industrial hub in the town of Balilihan as one of the projects designed to aid small coconut farmers in their livelihood.

Another investor has also expressed interest in putting up a coconut processing center in the third district of Bohol, he added.

The initiatives aimed at helping farmers in marketing coconut products and providing them with value-adding activities are expected to give the local coconut industry a significant boost.

Cabinet Secretary Leoncio Evasco has also announced his support for Bohol’s coconut industry as he noted that the province should be among the leading suppliers of coconut products in the country.

He also assured small coconut farmers in Bohol that they will be receiving a large share of the P72.5-billion coco levy fund which is set to be released by the national government.

For its part, the provincial government purchased a bulk of coconut seedlings which will be distributed to farmers through the PCA. (Allen Doydora)