Quezon residents run for ailing coconut industry

LUCENA CITY—At least 4,200 runners answered the starting gun in an early morning Sunday fun run here in solidarity with the provincial government program to rehabilitate the ailing coconut industry in Quezon.

“We’re more than 4,200 strong here. With our unity, we will once more uplift the coconut industry for the betterment of most of our province mates who depend on it for a living,” Quezon Gov.  David Suarez, told the runners gathered at the provincial capitol grounds before the start of the mass run dubbed as “Sa bawat kilometrong takbo, isang punong niyog ang handog mo (A coconut tree for every kilometer you run).”

The runners were composed of government employees, students, professionals, police, military, media men and coconut farmers.

Suarez said the coconut industry in Quezon needs a massive replanting program to replace the old and matured trees and those felled by illegal coco lumber traders.

Suarez led the runners in the 2-km and 5-km categories. Each runner paid P150 as registration fee. Students paid only half in exchange for a running shirt.

“We joined the run because of its good cause. Our registration fee is our small contribution,” said Aileen Romasanta, a senior student from a public high school who ran with her five classmates.

Coconut farmer Efren Montesa from Sariaya, Quezon, said he joined the run because of a “life and death” reason.

“Most coconut farmlands in Quezon badly need massive replanting. If the government will allow the sorry condition of the local coconut industry to continue, a few more years and the industry will be dead,” said Montesa, who ran with his two sons, both college students.

Last month, the provincial government also declared support to Quezon coconut farmers in their struggle for the return of the coconut levy. Quezon is believed to be the biggest contributor to the multibillion-peso coconut levy which was forcibly collected during the Marcos regime.

The fun run also kicked off the weeklong commemoration of the 133rd birth anniversary of the late President Manuel Quezon, with a special focus on the province’s coconut industry.

In 2007, the provincial government and the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) prohibited the cutting and trade of coconut lumber in Quezon. The ban was lifted by the PCA last April.

But Ronnie Rosales, PCA-Quezon officer in charge, said they would still be very strict in issuing cutting and traveling permits.

The PCA in the region is also encouraging the planting of  dwarf coconut trees, which came from Mindanao and can be bought at P50 per seedling, as the variety bears more coconuts compared to the tall variety and produces nuts in three to four years.

The coconut industry is a major source of foreign exchange, with the Philippines accounting for 65 percent of the world traded coconut products, according to the Department of Agriculture.

The industry earns an average of $800 million per year or P32 billion per year from exports trade and contributes about 5 percent of the country’s total annual merchandise exports receipts.