Approving the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan

June 2, 2022

EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 172

APPROVING THE COCONUT FARMERS AND INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT PLAN

WHEREAS, Republic Act (RA) No. 11524, otherwise known as the "Coconut Farmers and Industry Trust Fund Act," declares it a policy of the State to consolidate the benefits due to coconut farmers, especially the poor and marginalized, under various statutes, and expedite the delivery thereof, to attain increased incomes for coconut farmers, alleviate poverty, and achieve social equality;

WHEREAS, Section 4 of RA No. 11524 directs the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) to develop the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan, which shall provide, among others, national programs: (i) for the establishment of community-based enterprises; (ii) on the provision of social protection for coconut farmers, farm workers, and their families; (iii) on the organization and development of coconut farmers; (iv) on the conduct of innovative research on coconut processing, production, and distribution, all for the purpose of developing the domestic coconut industry; and (v) on the integrated processing of coconut and downstream products;

WHEREAS, the PCA consulted concerned government agencies, coconut farmers, including their organizations, industry associations, civil society groups, the academe, and other stakeholders in the formulation of the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan;

WHEREAS, pursuant to RA No. 11524, the Department of Budget and Management, Department of Finance, Department of Trade and Industry, and the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), provided advisory opinions on the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan, with the NEDA particularly noting that the same is aligned with the Updated Philippine Development Plan 2017-2022 and the Philippine Coconut Farmers and Industry Roadmap 2021-2040, and consistent with national development priorities to improve the coconut industry's productivity through hybridization, crop diversification, integrated farming, and the provision of support services to farmers;

WHEREAS, the PCA Board, through Resolution No. 010-2022 dated 28 February 2022, has adopted and endorsed the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan for approval of the President; and

WHEREAS, there is a need to approve the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan to increase overall productivity and income of coconut farmers, alleviate poverty, and achieve the twin objectives of rehabilitating and modernizing the coconut industry to attain social equity;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, RODRIGO ROA DUTERTE, President of the Republic of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitution and existing laws, do hereby order:

SECTION 1. Approval of the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan. — The Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan (CFIDP), which is annexed to this Order, is hereby approved. Consistent with RA No. 11524, the CFIDP shall be implemented by the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) together with other concerned government agencies, as outlined in the CFIDP.

The CFIDP shall be reviewed annually to ensure its effective implementation, taking into consideration the absorptive capacity and performance of implementing agencies, as well as the outputs and outcomes of programs based on key performance indicators.

To ensure that strategies and programs are responsive to evolving industry needs, the PCA, in consultation with concerned agencies and stakeholders, shall revisit and update the CFIDP every five (5) years, subject to the approval of the President.

SECTION 2. Guidelines and Policy Recommendations. — The PCA and other implementing agencies may issue guidelines and advisory opinions, or adopt specific policy recommendations and actions relative to the full implementation of the CFIDP, without need of further approval of the President. It is understood, however, that all policies or courses of action to be adopted shall be consistent with RA No. 11524 and the CFIDP, and that the same are properly coordinated with and endorsed by the PCA Board.

SECTION 3. Whole-of-Government Cooperation. — All departments, agencies and instrumentalities of the government, including state universities and colleges, government-owned or -controlled corporations, and government financial institutions, are hereby directed, and local government units are hereby enjoined, to render full assistance to and cooperation with the PCA and other implementing agencies of the CFIDP, to mobilize the necessary resources for its implementation.

SECTION 4. Funding. — Funding for the programs under the CFIDP shall be taken from the Coconut Farmers and Industry Trust Fund under RA No. 11524, and from the regular appropriations of implementing agencies.

Consistent with RA No. 11524, the Coconut Farmers and Industry Trust Fund shall be separate and distinct from the regular funds appropriated to the PCA. In this regard, the PCA, together with other implementing agencies, shall continue to pursue their mandates of implementing programs and projects for the development of the coconut industry, from their respective regular appropriations and from funds under the Trust Fund.

SECTION 5. Repeal. — All orders, rules and regulations, and issuances or parts thereof inconsistent with this Order are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.

SECTION 6. Separability. — If any part of this Order approving the CFIDP is declared unconstitutional or invalid, the provisions unaffected thereby shall remain valid and subsisting.

SECTION 7. Effectivity. — This Order shall take effect immediately upon its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

DONE in the City of Manila, this 2nd day of June, in the year of Our Lord, Two Thousand Twenty-Two.