With barely a week into office as the new Chairman of Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA), Secretary Emmanuel Pinol is already preparing the ground to help the coconut farmers of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
The MinDA Secretary is looking at the potential of exporting mature and green coconuts to opened global market given the powers and autonomy of the BARMM.
“I asked the legal experts last week to study the extent of the Powers of the BARMM in relation to promoting the welfare of its agriculture stakeholders”, MinDA Secretary Pinol mentioned in his facebook.
The BARMM has the authority to export agricultural products by coming up with its own legislation given the Powers given to the Autonomous Government through RA 11054.
As Focal Person for the BARMM, Sec Pinol will confide with the Chief Minister of the BARMM to present the idea to improve the coconut farmers of the region.
“I will meet with Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim Murad very soon to present the idea of helping the coconut farmers of the Bangsamoro Region by asking the Parliament to enact a measure which would specifically allow the export of Mature and Green Coconuts”, Secretary Pinol mentioned in his facebook account.
The Presidential Decree No. 1106 of 1985 of Marcos restricted the export of mature coconuts due to fears that other countries would use the genetic materials of Philippine coconuts. This restriction is outdated given the technology and research and development that other countries pursued.
While farmers cannot export coconuts, they suffered due to low copra prices resulting from entry of alternative cooking oil. A legislative enactment of the BARMM Parliament can open opportunities for export of mature and green coconuts which are demanded in the US, China and Middle East skirting the 34-year old decree.
The new MinDa Secretary sets as priority concerns agricultural productivity, renewable energy and poverty alleviation noting the paradoxes of rich natural resources and prevalent poverty in Mindanao.
