The Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), backed by the Department of Agriculture (DA), is stepping up efforts to secure fresh funding to keep its goal of planting 100 million coconut palms by 2028 on schedule, a nationwide push aimed at reviving the country’s coconut industry and raising incomes for millions of farming families.
The massive planting campaign is the centerpiece of the Accelerated Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan (CFIDP), the government’s blueprint for rebuilding one of the Philippines’ biggest agricultural sectors. Rather than simply distributing seedlings, the program combines farm rehabilitation, fertilization, intercropping, financing, research, processing and market development to create a more productive and profitable coconut industry.
The challenge now is funding. For 2026, the PCA plans to plant 25.4 million seedlings, but existing funds cover only 16.85 million. That leaves a shortfall of more than 8.5 million seedlings, requiring an additional P1.26 billion to stay on track toward the 100-million-palm target.
“This is more than a massive planting campaign. It is an investment in the future of our coconut farmers and the entire industry,” PCA Administrator and Chief Executive Officer Dexter Buted said.
“Every palm planted means higher incomes, stronger rural communities and a more competitive Philippine coconut sector.”
Despite the funding gap, implementation continues at full speed. The PCA planted 8.6 million seedlings in 2024 and has already planted millions more through participatory planting projects, coconut hybridization program, local government partnerships, and community-led initiatives. Seedlings are also being raised in nurseries across the country for the next planting cycle.
The agency does not simply distribute seedlings but it truly ensures that each seedling survives and eventually bears fruit.
Survival rates, growth and long-term productivity have become key performance indicators, recognizing that new coconut palms take several years before generating income.
To deliver quicker gains, the government is also investing heavily in fertilizing existing coconut palms. More than 9.17 million palms had received fertilizer as of March, helping over 78,000 farmers boost yields while waiting for newly planted palms to mature.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. said rebuilding the coconut industry requires long-term investment but promises equally lasting benefits. “This is about giving coconut farmers a better future. Higher productivity means higher incomes, while a stronger coconut industry supports jobs, exports and food security.
Every peso invested today helps build a more resilient agricultural economy for tomorrow,” he said.
If fully funded, the program could rejuvenate millions of aging coconut palms, strengthen the Philippines’ position as one of the world’s leading coconut producers and create a more sustainable source of income for farming communities for decades to come.
