Philippine Coconut Authority facts for kids
| Pangasiwaan sa Niyog ng Pilipinas | |
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 PHILCOA headquarters, Quezon City |
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| Agency overview | |
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| Formed | June 30, 1973 |
| Headquarters | Elliptical Road, Vasra, Diliman, Quezon City 14°39′14″N 121°03′06″E / 14.65385°N 121.05174°E |
| Agency executive |
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| Parent agency | Department of Agriculture |
The Philippine Coconut Authority (in Filipino, Pangasiwaan sa Niyog ng Pilipinas), also known as PCA or PHILCOA, is a special government agency in the Philippines. It works under the Department of Agriculture. Its main goal is to help the coconut and other palm oil industries grow strong. They want these industries to be united, efficient, and able to compete globally.
Contents
History of the Coconut Authority
The Philippine Coconut Authority was created on June 30, 1973. This happened because of a special order called Presidential Decree 232. When PCA was formed, it took over the jobs and responsibilities of three older groups. These were the Coconut Coordinating Council (CCC), the Philippine Coconut Administration (PHILCOA), and the Philippine Coconut Research Institute (PHILCORIN).
Today, PCA is the only government agency focused on developing the coconut industry. It aims to help the industry reach its full potential. This includes making it strong and competitive worldwide.
Early Efforts to Support Coconuts
Before PCA, there were other groups trying to help the coconut industry.
- In 1940, the National Coconut Corporation (NACOCO) was started. Its job was to help the industry grow and develop.
- NACOCO was renamed in 1954. It became the Philippine Coconut Administration (PHILCOA). It had similar duties and responsibilities.
- Ten years later, PHILCOA's work expanded. It was renamed the Philippine Coconut Research Institute (PHILCORIN). This agency was created to study coconuts. It would watch, check, and do research on them.
- In 1971, the Coconut Coordinating Council (CCC) was formed. It replaced PHILCORIN. The CCC was in charge of overseeing and checking government programs. These programs aimed to make the country self-sufficient in coconuts.
Why PCA Was Created
The earlier agencies had a problem. They did not always work together for one clear purpose. Their plans did not fully focus on helping the coconut industry as a whole. Most importantly, they did not put the coconut farmers at the center of their efforts.
Because of this, the Philippine government decided to create a new agency. This new agency would fix these issues. So, on June 30, 1973, the Philippine Coconut Authority was established. It took over all the powers, jobs, people, and property of the CCC, PHILCOA, and PHILCORIN.
PCA's Changing Roles
On July 14, 1976, PCA became an independent public corporation. This meant it reported directly to the Office of the President. A special order, Presidential Decree No. 961, made this happen. This order was the first time all laws about coconut and palm oil development were put together.
Later, on June 11, 1978, this order was updated. It became Presidential Decree No. 1468, also known as the "Revised Coconut Industry Code." This new code officially became the main rulebook for PCA as a public corporation.
On January 30, 1987, PCA officially became part of the Department of Agriculture (DA). This change was made to help coordinate and monitor all agricultural policies and programs. The move was confirmed in the Administrative Code of 1987.
In 2014, President Benigno Aquino III moved PCA back to the Office of the President. This also happened to other agencies like the National Food Authority. A special official, Francis Pangilinan, was put in charge of overseeing these agencies.
Then, in July 2016, President Rodrigo Duterte moved PCA again. It became one of 12 agencies under the Office of the Cabinet Secretary. But in September 2018, PCA was moved back to the Department of Agriculture. This happened through Executive Order No. 62.
Helping After Disasters
In 2014, a report showed that the Philippine Coconut Authority worked with another group. This group was the Bureau of Fisheries and Agriculture. They started a "Food-For-Work" program. This program helped people who were affected by the 2013 Bohol earthquake. It aimed to give them ways to earn a living that would last a long time.
