ALBAY 3rd District Representative Raymond Adrian Salceda has filed the first bill responding to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s call to amend the Coconut Farmers and Industry Trust Fund Act, following the President’s repeated statements that the law must be improved to meet the real needs of coconut farmers.
The President first raised the issue publicly on July 4 during a visit to General Santos City, and reiterated it during his 2025 State of the Nation Address, where he emphasized the urgency of reform and the need to accelerate replanting efforts nationwide.
“Tama po si Presidente na may problema sa paggamit. It takes too long under the current arrangement, and it seems it’s by design,” Salceda said. “We’re simply trying to respond to that by making sure the fund moves toward the farmers faster and more directly.”
House Bill No. 2336 empowers the Trust Fund Management Committee to reallocate unspent shares from implementing agencies that fail to submit or carry out programs, and redirect those funds to other agencies already identified under the law with qualified but underfunded proposals. It also mandates a strategic share of the fund for coconut planting, seedling propagation, nursery development, and export-oriented coconut enterprises.
“The President’s target is 100 million new coconut trees by 2028. That’s a very ambitious but doable number. But we need the funds to make it happen,” Salceda added.
He also pointed out that disbursements have been slow, not because of lack of funds, but because of the way the current law is structured.
“Pagkatagal-tagal po itong ipinaglaban ng mga magsasaka. Nagawan na po ng batas. Pero, napakatagal po ng disbursement kasi masyadong pinarte-parte ang allocation. Hindi naman lahat ng agency, nagsusubmit ng proposal, bilang hindi rin nila core functions. Wala ring naging dagdag na project management offices sa mga ahensya,” Salceda said.
The bill also clarifies that the Trust Fund Management Committee has the authority to issue the implementing rules and strengthens the role of coconut farmers and local governments in identifying and monitoring programs.
Salceda urged Congress to act quickly. “The direction is clear. The executive is ready. The farmers are waiting. Let’s do our part.”
