Fwd: [CoconutProtocol] Technology to boost RP coco advantage

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From: naomi1204 <naomi1204@...>

Date: Thu, 08 Jul 2004 11:51:16 -0000

Subject: [CoconutProtocol] Technology to boost RP coco advantage

coconutprotocol

Technology to boost RP coco advantage

A new integrated technology that will process industrial and food

products from coconut including a world class skim milk and

activated carbon is seen to boost the Philippine coconut industry

with the technology to be set up in 28 locations requiring some

P1.12 billion.

Lawyer Bienvenido R. Garrido, National Food Security Council (NFSC)

undersecretary, disclosed that the technology, developed by local

manufacturers of pre-fabricated materials is easy to set up and

could thus readily give immediate income to farmers given adequate

funding source.

The NFSC identified potential locations for the integrated coconut

processing technology in 10 areas in Luzon which are Real, Quezon;

Mauban, Quezon; Catanauan, Quezon; Alabat Island; Baler, Quezon;

Odiongan, Romblon; Sibuyan Island; Tinambac, Camarines Sur; Labo,

Camarines Norte; and Bulan, Sorsogon.

In Visayas, the locations are Ubay, Bohol; Tanauan, Leyte, Basey,

Western Samar; Ivisan, Capiz; Babatngon, Leyte, Burauen, Leyte; and

Hernani, Samar.

The Mindanao areas are Carmen, North Cotabato; Monkayo, Compostela

Valley; Tagum, Davao del Norte; Quezon, Bukidnon; Valencia,

Bukidnon; Lebak, Sultan Kudarat; Maguindanao; Magpet, North

Cotabato, Margosatubig, Zamboanga del Sur; Olutanga, Sibugay; and

Glan Saranggani.

Ramoncito Santos, project management team head of the NFSC, said the

integrated processing plant is hoped to advance the Philippines

competitive advantage in coconut.

" The Philippines has four million hectares of the world's 12 million

hectares of coconut land which is our competitive advantage. We

have a technology that is just in our doorstep that we have long

ignored because of the (low) coconut price before. But now that the

price of coconut is high, now is the time to develop it, " he said in

an interview.

Santos said that funding for the each location may require around

R36 to R40 million if the capacity of the plant is similar to the

10,000 nut capacity per shift of the Calauag Quezon Integrated

Coconut Processing Plant that NFSC just launched last week.

One of the most important products that the plant can produce, he

said, is the coconut-based skim milk which has all the nutrient

quality of cow's milk and which has the potential to displace the

Philippines' dependence on milk imports costing some $300 million in

foreign exchange expense.

" The nutrient value is practically the same. The advantage of

coconut milk is it is lactose-free and it is the closest milk from

mother's milk. Just imagine that the monolaurine content can only

be found in mother's milk. And yet, we are importing 95 percent of

our national supply of cow's milk. Think of the prospect of

supplying our own milk, " he said.

Santos said the integrated plant will be the first of such plant to

be put up in the country—a single assembly line that can produce

many exportable, high value products along the line including geo-

logs and geo-textile used in erosion control, industrial products

such as activated carbon, 2-t oil, and petroleum fuel additives,

coconut oil, and juice. (MMA)