TACLOBAN CITY – The coconut industry in Northern Samar is poised for major growth with the upcoming establishment of a coconut industrial park in Bobon town, a development expected to modernize processing and create new opportunities for local farmers.
Investors Stephen Chen and Alex Lao of Islandfun Inc., which is headquartered in Metro Manila, visited the province on April 8 to present a phased development plan for the project to the provincial government.
The proposed facility will rise on a three-hectare site in Barangay San Isidro, Bobon town and will process coconut water, milk, oil, charcoal, and fiber.
The first phase of the project involves a P200 million investment, broken down into 60 percent for infrastructure, 20 percent for manpower, and 20 percent for operational expenses.
A second phase will bring in an additional P500 million to further scale up production.
Once fully operational, the facility will require 300,000 coconuts per day, significantly boosting demand for the province’s coconut supply.
“We welcome all kinds of investments that would benefit the Nortehanon people. For so long, the resources of Northern Samar, albeit abundant, have remained stagnant due to the lack of means to process them,” said Provincial Economic and Investment Promotions Office (PEDIPO) head Jan Allen Berbon during an April 10 interview.
Berbon said a trial shipment is expected within the month, marking the beginning of the park’s operations.
“With this approach, we help elevate the playing field for our producers to a whole new level,” he added, emphasizing how the facility will not only maximize the use of coconuts but also introduce more modern processing practices in the province.
Northern Samar’s strategic location, with three operational ports, makes it well-positioned to become a major exporter of coconut-based products to international markets, Berbon noted.
Based on the records of the Philippine Coconut Authority, Northern Samar ranked as the 18th largest coconut-producing province in the country in 2023, with an output of 315,000 metric tons.
Around 84,000 hectares of land are planted with coconuts, supporting about 86,000 registered coconut farmers, including landowners, tenants, and workers.
(JOEY A. GABIETA)
