The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) and the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) have joined efforts to boost the coconut industry in North Cotabato, officials said Monday.

Evangeline Bueno, DAR provincial agrarian reform program officer, said validation activities are ongoing for potential agrarian reform beneficiaries organizations (ARBOs) that will be developed as coconut processing centers under the proposed coconut value chain boosting project.

“Potential ARBOs will be assessed for further interventions to strengthen their operations and to establish tie-ups with private sectors to expand their markets,” Bueno said in a statement.

Over the weekend, the validation team composed of DAR regional and provincial officials visited the Bagong Pag-asa Credit Cooperative (BPCC), a DAR-assisted organization engaged in virgin coconut oil (VCO) production in Barangay New Panay, Pigcawayan town.

Roldan Ali, DAR assistant regional director for administration and support services, said DAR wanted to improve the process and product of the ARBOs to have a steady market for expansion.

Seminiana Bawik, BPCC project manager, lauded DAR for the continued assistance given to her group.

“We are thankful to DAR for considering us as a potential recipient of the proposed coconut value chain boosting project,” Bawik said.

The BPCC is a recipient of the Village Level Farm-focused Enterprise Development (VLFED) project.

It also received VCO processing machines and equipment under the Climate Resilient Farm Productivity Support Project and is now in the process of registration with the Food and Drug Administration.

Aside from palay, Pigcawayan has vast coconut plantations and is known for copra production and its by-products. (PNA)