PCA revives talks to lift ban on coconut exports

The Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) is reviving negotiations to lift the ban on the exports of fresh coconut to Saudi Arabia, mainland China, Taiwan and Hong Kong.

"There is a big market for buko or fresh coconut and we are now in the middle of talks with these markets where the country previously shipped the commodity before it was suspended," said PCA administrator Oscar Garin.

The Philippines, for more than five years now, has been barred from shipping fresh coconut to these countries because of the prevalence of the cadang-cadang disease in coconut trees.

Cadang-cadang pest infestation is endemic in the Bicol region and has spread over Quezon provinces including Polillo Island, its boundary with Aurora and Homonhon Island in Eastern Samar. The highly-contagious disease that can spread easily from one coconut tree to another results in the premature decline and death of coconut and palm trees in the Philippines associated with viroid infection.

Garin said however, that PCA has been taking concrete steps to address the problem.

The Saudi government has sent a technical team last year to assess the cadang-cadang situation and is expected to lift its ban on fresh coconut before the end of the year. New discussions were also initiated with China, Taiwan and Hong Kong.

"The spread of the disease is now being effectively contained and based on the ocular inspection by the team from Saudi Arabia, we are confident exports of fresh coconut will be resumed shortly," added Garin.

On the other hand, negotiations to convince Taiwan to re-open its fresh coconut market to the Philippines is tougher.

As early as 1988, Taiwan banned Philippine buko exports. Prior to the ban, the Philippines enjoyed a thriving P75-million trade with Taiwan on fresh coconut.