DUMAGUETE CITY, Philippines (PIA) – The Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) has allocated over P1.3 million as incentives to coconut farmers to produce and plant seed nuts in Negros Oriental.

The PCA is targeting the planting of 96,573 coconut seedlings in some 965 hectares of land throughout the province.

Assistant provincial coconut development manager Eva Pinili said some 978 coconut farmers in the province are expected to receive incentive for participating in the massive production and planting of coconut trees.

Under the PCA’s National Coconut Productivity Program, farmer-participants in Negros Oriental will also be given 3,900 bags of salt or sodium chloride as fertilizer to boost coconut productivity.

Meanwhile, Pinili also said 1st District Congresswoman Jocelyn Limkaichong has funded worth P5 million for the purchase of coconut planting materials under a Plan Now Pay later scheme.

Negros Oriental second district Rep. George Arnaiz also allocated P1 million for agriculture, with 25 percent of the amount going to coco farmers in the district.

The PCA’s Plant Now Pay Later scheme was designed to encourage farmers to avail of the program and plant more coconuts.

This year, the PCA will observe the 25th National Coconut Week, August 25-28 with the theme “Niyog Yaman ng Nasyon Noon man Hanggang Ngayon.”

The celebration is mandated by Presidential Proclamation No. 142 signed by the late President Corazon C. Aquino in 1987. It pays tribute to the coconut as a "tree of life."