Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol welcomed United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Undersecretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Ted McKinney in a courtesy visit at the DA central office on November 14, 2018.

During the visit, McKinney revealed that the US markets would soon open for the Philippine ‘buko’.

“After the completion of quarantine protocols, consumers may be able to buy green coconuts in Filipino and Asian stores,” McKinney said.

Piñol also presented to McKinney the prototype hollow blocks made from coconut fibers infused with recycled plastics, which can be used as construction materials. The blocks were produced from the collaboration of the DA and Buskirk Engineering.

Currently, Philippine coconuts are marketed for its by-products only due to the execution of Executive Order Order 1016 issued by President Ferdinand Marcos in 1985. The EO does not allow the export of whole coconuts. The Governing Board of the Philippine Coconut Authority is set to propose the lifting of the ban.

“I don’t see the logic in the ban,” Piñol said adding that the plan to allow export will positively affect the value of copra, which is currently in a price slump.

“Under the Duterte Administration, a five-year coconut industry development plan is underway,” he added.

McKinney committed to support the country’s local industry, and assist the stakeholders in penetrating the US markets with green coconuts and other high-value products.

During the dialogue, Piñol expressed his interest of sourcing Girolando cattle from the US to cover the initial 1600 head requirements of the country for dairy production. ### (Carlos Baldosa, DA-AFID)