8th Coco Festival slated Aug 13-16

MANILA, Philippines - Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) Administrator Oscar G. Garin has announced that the celebration of the 23rd National Coconut Week will be highlighted by the 8th Coconut Festival, a trade fair and exhibit that will showcase the various products and by-products derived from the various parts of the coconut at the Mega Trade Hall 3, Megamall, Mandaluyong City on Aug. 13 to 16.

This year’s theme is “Niyog - Natatangi ito yaman Oil na Ginto pa!” The PCA Central Office and its 14 regions and 68 provincial offices will spearhead the celebration which will serve as a thanksgiving for the blessings and benefits derived from the coconut as the “Tree of Life” as mandated by the Presidential Proclamation142 Series of 1987.

Garin said the event will provide a venue for information-sharing and trading activities and will showcase the business opportunities from the coconut. There will be farmers training in the regions while free lectures on the latest coconut technologies and coconut crafts will be held at the Mega Mall.

Admission is free.

The event is co-organized by the PCA-Employees Multi-Purpose Cooperative Inc. (PCA-EMPCI). Sponsors include San Pablo Manufacturing Corp., Asian and Pacific Coconut Community (APCC), Cargill Philippines, Chemrez Technologies, Inc., Sime-Darby/Agri-Bio Corp., Shn.Bhd./H. C. Covercrops Int’l, Nutiva-Delicious Hemp & Coconut Superfoods, Tropicana Food Products, Inc./Atson Coco Inc., D. A. Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Service (D. A. AMAS), GMA High Value Commercial Crops Program, Phil. Agriculture and Fisheries Bioechnology Program, Philippine Agricultural Development & Commercial Corp. (PADCC) among others.

For details, contact Laura T. Puyupay/Conchita B. Cruz at 928-9488/928-4501 loc. 504 and Maribel N. Sahagun at 926-2281/928-4501 loc 412. – Coconut Media Service