PCA lacks personnel to implement projects under Coco Levy act
THE PHILIPPINE Coconut Authority (PCA) said it does not have enough manpower to implement different projects under Republic Act No. 11524 or the Coconut Farmers and Industry Trust Fund Act, according to its top official.
PCA Administrator Benjamin R. Madrigal, Jr. said during a virtual roundtable at Lido on Wednesday that the PCA currently has around 500 plantilla personnel, which is 61% of the 826 available positions.
“The current PCA is not as big as it was back in the day. This is a 500-something personnel agency which will implement different projects under the law,” Mr. Madrigal said.
“We are compensating the PCA’s lack of personnel with partnerships among different government agencies, local government units (LGUs), and leaders of coconut farmer organizations,” he added.
Mr. Madrigal explained that the law provided for the designation of different government agencies with the corresponding projects that match their mandates.
Among the more than 10 implementing agencies include the Department of Public Works and Highways for infrastructure development, the Commission on Higher Education for scholarship program dedicated to coconut farmers, and the Cooperative Development Authority for organizing coconut farmer organizations.
This set-up, however, is likely to overwhelm farmers due to the number of implementing agencies, according to former agriculture secretary Leonardo Q. Montemayor.
He suggested closer collaboration between the PCA and local government units to tap more resources and personnel support.
“They (local governments) will welcome the PCA if ever the agency reaches out to them and to other groups related to the coconut sector,” Mr. Montemayor said.
“The PCA should also target the LGUs with the impending implementation of the Mandanas ruling which will increase the internal revenue allotment of LGUs next year,” he added.
Signed by President Rodrigo R. Duterte on Feb. 26, Republic Act No. 11524 permits coconut farmers to utilize the taxes collected from them during the Marcos administration. The said taxes were diverted towards the procurement of corporate assets for the gain of Marcos’ associates.
The funds will be used based on the Coconut Industry Development Plan. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave
