Philippine Fiber Industry Development Authority (PhilFIDA) said it will adapt the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) copra pricing for abaca to address disparity in pricing.
The move responds to farmers’ growing concerns over the widening gap between farmgate prices and pulp producers’ selling prices, aiming to provide greater transparency and fairness in the abaca market.
PCA Administrator and CEO Dr. Dexter R. Buted welcomed the initiative during a meeting with PhilFIDA officials and expressed strong support for data-driven interventions that promote transparency and market fairness. He was joined by TMDD Department Manager Rosella B. Villaruel, Eduardo R. Dela Torre, and Camille Millicent Kay C. Rivera from TIRD.
The agencies also discussed a proposed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to advance abaca-coconut intercropping, including the conduct of a comparative income study between abaca monocropping and abaca-coconut intercrop systems.
Funding options for intercropping initiatives through the Department of Agriculture’s High Value Crops Development Program (DA-HVCDP) were likewise considered, which signals potential support for farmers adopting mixed-crop systems.
Officials likewise agreed to revive efforts to advance the Joint Administrative Circular (JAC) to delineate their respective mandates under the Shared Responsibilities for the Regulation of Coir and Coir Products, in support of the long-term sustainability of the Philippine coir industry.
PCA chief underscored that the collaboration represents “a step toward a more equitable pricing environment, farmer empowerment, and integrated fiber and coconut industry growth.”
The benchmarking initiative is seen as a key step in ensuring fairer pricing mechanisms, improving farmer income, enhancing industry resilience, and strengthening inter-agency coordination.
