![\"\"](\"https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/ComCon-Photo-1-resized.jpg\")
\u201cNais ko sabihin na sa pagorganisa ng Komite, ay magkaroon ng mas madalas na pagpupulong dahil marami po tayong urgent business, agarang aksyon ang kinakailangan natin para itulak ang mga ahensiya ng gobyerno tulad ng PCA at DA, at ang mga ito ay dapat rin maaksyunan ng ating Kalihim,\u201d said Undersecretary Serrano.<\/p>\n
On behalf of PCA, OIC-Administrator Glenn Santos expressed the agency\u2019s solid support for the creation of the Committee. \u201cBuo po ang binibigay naming suporta na magkaroon ng Committee on Coconut, ng isang committee para magkaroon ng palitan ng pananaw, pagbibigay ng impormasyon, at marinig ang mga problema kung saan tatalakayin natin ang mga solusyon,\u201d shared OIC-Administrator Santos.<\/p>\n With PCAF Committee on Food Staples Vice-Chairperson Romeo Royandoyan acting as interim chair, the Committee discussed updates and developments on various matters concerning the industry including the status of two essential legislations which are the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Act and the Strengthened Philippine Coconut Authority Law.<\/p>\n Presidential Legislative Liaison Office (PLLO) Undersecretary Antonio Gallardo suggested to look for champions in the House of Representatives and Senate of the Philippines who will help lobby the amendment of these documents during the next Congress given that these are already pending in the Office of the President for signing into law.<\/p>\n \u201cKailangan meron tayong champion sa House and Senate na kikilos. There are many issues. There should be a sense of urgency,\u201d noted Undersecretary Gallardo.<\/p>\n Also deliberated were the issue of palm oil production, its effect on the sector, as well as the industry roadmap in which it was suggested that a national conference should take place in order to consolidate all inputs from regional and provincial coconut farmers with regard to the interest of the commodity and its stakeholders. <\/p>\n Aside from tackling these various areas of concern, officials from PCAF\u2019s Planning, Monitoring and Knowledge Management Division and Partnership Development Division (PMKMD and PDD) also oriented the attendees on the agency\u2019s mandate and structure, as well as the requirements for membership in the Committee on Coconut and the corresponding terms and reference during the said organizational meeting.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/ComCon-Photo-2-resized.jpg\")