News Details

PCA, PhilFIDA Launch Price Watch System to Protect Abaca Farmers and Promote Fair Trade

NPO

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October 23, 2025

MANILA — The Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) announced the implementation of a daily price watch system designed to promote fair and transparent pricing for abaca farmers across the country.

The initiative, led by the Philippine Fiber Industry Development Authority (PhilFIDA), seeks to address long-standing concerns over the widening gap between farmgate and selling prices of abaca — a vital export commodity for the Philippines.

PCA Administrator Dexter Buted lauded the move, emphasizing that accurate, data-driven monitoring is key to building a more balanced agricultural market.

“This is a step toward a more equitable pricing environment, farmer empowerment, and integrated fiber and coconut industry growth,” Buted said.

The copra price monitoring system of the PCA, managed by its Trade and Market Development Department, now serves as the benchmark for the abaca price watch mechanism. It records daily comparative data on domestic copra prices per kilogram at both millgate and farmgate levels, tracks price trends by day, week, and region, and compiles information on the value of coconut-based products in local and global markets.

Alongside the price monitoring effort, PCA and PhilFIDA are also exploring a strategic partnership for abaca-coconut intercropping, aiming to increase productivity and income opportunities for farmers. The agencies also plan to conduct a comparative income study between abaca monocropping and mixed abaca-coconut systems to guide future development programs.

To further assist farmers adopting intercropping, funding options are being considered under the Department of Agriculture’s High Value Crops Development Program (DA-HVCDP).

This collaboration marks a milestone in the government’s push to modernize and stabilize the abaca industry, ensuring that Filipino farmers receive fair compensation for their labor while strengthening the nation’s standing as a global leader in natural fiber production.

NPO News Team | PNA-PR