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

In his welcome message during the recent hosting by Aklan of the Coconut Celebration Month, Lachica said that the coconut industry in Kalibo, supported as it is by the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), has helped produce many children of coconut farmers who are now successful 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 departments in the province so that the industry continues to flourish," Lachica told the audience which included coconut farmers and organizations from Aklan's 17 towns, PCA officials from the regional and provincial offices of Western Visayas and Aklan local government officials.
Lachica appealed to PCA Regional Manager Jose Cruz and other agency officials for help in extending support to the coconut industry in the province.

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