Hinunangan Campus enters agreement with PCA for coconut seed farm project

Southern Leyte State University-Hinunangan Campus and the Philippine Coconut Authority forge a linkage on March 9, 2023, through signing a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), to work together for the establishment of a coconut seed farm.

The 10 hectares of land that SLSU-Hinunangan Campus provided to develop a coconut seed farm is a development initiative meant to address the major challenges faced by the coconut-based agriculture in Eastern Visayas such as pest and illnesses, low-coconut yield, natural disasters, and lack of business processing centers.

PCA shall provide the coconut seeds to be planted and will shoulder all the expenses connected with or incidental to the establishment and maintenance of the seed farm.

In his message of commitment, Mr. Bernie Ferrer Cruz, the Regional PCA Administrator, confirmed their purpose for interventions to increase coconut yield for community sustainable resources.

Apart from Mr. Cruz, in attendance was PCA Regional Manager Mr. Joel Pilapil and other staff of PCA, Representative of the 2nd District of Southern Leyte, Hon. Christoferson M. Yap, along with the officials of the University and SLSU-Hinunangan Campus—University President, Dr. Jude A Duarte, Vice President for Research, Innovation, and Extension Service (RIES) Dr. Francis Ann R. Sy, Director for Research and Innovation Dr. Rhoderick Malangsa, Director for Extension Services Dr. Frederick Aniga, Head of RIES in Hinunangan Campus Dr. Ian A. Navarrete, and College Dean Dr. John Paul Gapasin.

The collaboration, cooperation, and partnership between SLSU-Hinunangan Campus and PCA aims to enhance the coconut seed nut supply in the region and the country for the sustainability of the coconut planting and replanting program of the PCA and the industry. The project proposes to promote the establishment of Coconut Seed Farms in available and suitable lands owned by SLSU-Hinunangan Campus.