February 11, 2015

Coconut farmers are among the poorest farming sector in the Philippines but soon, their lives will be turned upside down. This was announced by Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Proceso J. Alcala during the blessing and inauguration of the P2,600,000-worth Coco Water Processing Technology Pilot Testing and Business Incubation Facility at the DA Regional Technology Commercialization Center Bicol Integrated Agricultural Research Center (DA-RTCC BIARC) Compound in San Agustin Pili, Camarines Sur on February 11, 2015.

The blessing and inauguration jumpstarts the operation of the coco water processing facility for the Coco Water Processing Technology Pilot Testing and Business Incubation Project.

“Ang mga magniniyog ang pinakamahirap sa mga magsasaka sa buong bansa, this time, babaliktarin po natin, ang niyog po ay gagamitin natin para baguhin ang buhay ng mga magniniyog at magsasaka sa Pilipinas,” Alcala said.

According to Alcala, Camarines Sur is the first province to install the village level coconut water processing facility, which was developed by the Philippine Center for Postharvest Mechanization and Development (PhilMech) Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija. He added that 85% of coconut water from matured coconuts is being wasted in copra processing. With the facility, around 2,000 mature coconuts can be processed into 600 liters of coco water or 1,600 (350 ml) bottles of coco water daily.

The 10 m x 10.5 sq. m. village level coconut water processing facility includes a mini laboratory, dry storage room, as well as space for pre-processing, cleaning, coco water extraction, pasteurization, filling, sealing, and packaging. According to PhilMech Chief Science Research Specialist and Division Chief Dr. Ofero A. Capariño, the coco water processing facility houses about P1.8 million-worth of equipment including a dehusker, three washing tanks, sanitizing cage, coco water extractor, coco water holding tank, and pasteurizer-chiller.

PhilMech Director Rex L. Bingabing believes that the coco water processing facility will benefit the coconut farmers and generate more job opportunities for the community. DA Regional Executive Director Abelardo R. Bragas credited it to DA Secretary Alcala’s program for coconut products. “Yung dating natatapon, ngayon magiging pera,” he said.

Camarines Sur Governor Miguel Luis R. Villafuerte agreed saying that the coco water processing technology pilot testing and business incubation project will not only boost the livelihood of coconut farmers in Camarines Sur but will promote coco water as a provincial commodity. He also mentioned an on-going negotiation with Vita Coco, a coco water manufacturing company in the U.S., to establish a coconut water processing plant in the province as well as a sisterhood agreement with island state American Samoa to supply 300,000 coconuts per month from Camarines Sur.

DA-PRDP is working closely with PhilMech, DA-Regional Field Office V, Camarines Sur Provincial Local Government Unit (PLGU), and Central Bicol State University of Agriculture (CBSUA) for the P6,560,000-worth Coco Water Processing Technology Pilot-Testing and Business Incubation Project which will run for one year. The objective is to pilot test coco water’s market acceptability, profitability, product characteristics, and machine efficiency prior to full commercial adoption. It also aims to establish product and machine protocols as well as engage and train farmer groups as raw material suppliers and eventual operators of the coco water processing facility.

The coco water processing facility’s test run results will be used by DA-PRDP in the commercialization of the coco water processing technology by partner LGUs, farmer groups, and product consolidators. (Annielyn L. Baleza, I-SUPPORT InfoACE Unit, DA-RAFIS 5)

DA Secretary Proceso J. Alcala (rightmost), assisted by Camarines Sur Governor Miguel Luis R. Villafuerte, PRDP PSO Luzon B Director Shandy M. Hubilla, DA Resident Auditor Edith Aguilar and DA RFO V RED Abelardo R. Bragas, leads the ribbon-cutting ceremony during the blessing and inauguration of the Coco Water Processing Technology Pilot Testing and Business Incubation Facility on February 11, 2015 at the DA-RTCC BIARC Compound in San Agustin Pili, Camarines Sur.