President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Tuesday launched the PHP350-million Solving Unemployment through Rural Industrialization, Sustainable and Enterprise Integrated Coconut Processing Facility (SUnRISE-ICPF), a public-private partnership designed to revolutionize the coconut industry in Misamis Oriental province.

The facility, which aims to create high-value coconut products beyond traditional copra, is expected to directly benefit over 66,000 coconut farmers in the province, according to the Chief Executive.

During the turnover rites, the President emphasized the potential of the project to significantly increase the farmgate price of coconuts.

“Layunin ng pasilidad na ito na itaas ang halaga ng niyog mula sa kasalukuyang PHP8 hanggang PHP10 bawat kilo tungo sa PHP16 hanggang PHP18 bawat kilo (This facility aims to increase the price of coconuts from the current PHP8 to PHP10 per kilo to PHP16 to PHP18 per kilo),” he said.

The facility, capable of processing up to 60,000 coconuts per day, will produce six key high-value products for both local and export markets. These include coconut pallets, coconut boards from husks, activated carbon from shells, coconut water, coconut sap, and coconut flour and skim milk from the coconut meat.

“Makikinabang dito ang tinatayang nasa 66,000 magsasaka ng niyog sa Misamis Oriental. Makakalikha rin po tayo ng trabaho para sa 2,500 Pilipino (An estimated 66,000 coconut farmers in Misamis Oriental will benefit from this. We will also create jobs for 2,500 Filipinos),” the President said.

Marcos has previously expressed his intention to make the Philippines the world’s No. 1 coconut exporter, seeing it as a “great opportunity” for the country’s continued economic growth. (PNA)