Kalibo mayor takes pride in coco industry

by Venus G. Villanueva

Kalibo, Aklan (2 September) — Even as Kalibo, the capital town of Aklan is the center of commerce in the province and at the same time a rice-producing municipality, it is still devoted to coconut and its newly-elected chief executive, Mayor William Lachica, said he is proud of this fact.

In his welcome message during the recent hosting of Aklan of the Coconut Celebration Month, Mayor Lachica said that the coconut industry in Kalibo, with the full support of the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), helped produced many successful children of coconut farmers who are now professionals.

“This should inspire our coconut farmers to exert more effort to increase coconut production and work hand-in-hand with the executive and legislative so the industry continues to flourish,” Lachica told the audience, composed of coconut farmers and organizations of Aklan’s 17 towns, PCA officials from the regional and provincial offices of Western Visayas and Aklan officials.

Lachica appealed to PCA Regional Manager Jose Cruz and other agency officials to help in extending support to the coconut industry in the province.

On the other hand, Sangguniang Panlalawigan Member Rodson F. Mayor, who represented Governor Carlito S. Marquez in the program, told PCA officials that Aklan is targeting to rehabilitate this year some 200 hectares of coconut plantations.

Mayor said the province will also be assisting in the intercropping of some 250 hectares, and will be providing some 1,000 bags of fertilizer.

Mayor also extolled the health benefits of coconut, telling the audience of the benefits of drinking coconut water based on his personal experience.

“Let us continue planting coconuts so more people could benefit and will have added income,” Mayor said.

Aklan was chosen as the venue of the celebration because in Western Visayas, it has the biggest coconut cover, according to PCA Regional Manager Jose S. Cruz. (PIA)