Domestic trade up in first quarter of 2023

DAR, PCA to develop coco processing hubs in NorCot

The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) and the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) have joined efforts to boost the coconut industry in North Cotabato, officials said Monday.

Evangeline Bueno, DAR provincial agrarian reform program officer, said validation activities are ongoing for potential agrarian reform beneficiaries organizations (ARBOs) that will be developed as coconut processing centers under the proposed coconut value chain boosting project.

“Potential ARBOs will be assessed for further interventions to strengthen their operations and to establish tie-ups with private sectors to expand their markets,” Bueno said in a statement.

Over the weekend, the validation team composed of DAR regional and provincial officials visited the Bagong Pagasa Credit Cooperative (BPCC), a DAR-assisted organization engaged in virgin coconut oil (VCO) production in Barangay New Panay, Pigcawayan town.

Thevolume and value of local trade posted double-digit growth in the first quarter of the year, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported.

Data released late Monday showed that the value of domestic trade amounted to PHP199.72 billion, up by 46.7 percent from the PHP136.18 billion a year ago.

This was followed by food and live animals and manufactured goods classified chiefly by material.

“By commodity section, food and live animals led in terms of quantity of domestic trade in the first quarter of 2023 with 1.31 million tons or a share of 24.6 percent to the total domestic trade,” PSA said.

Roldan Ali, DAR assistant regional director for administration and support services, said DAR wanted to improve the process and product of the ARBOs to have a steady market for expansion.

Seminiana Bawik, BPCC project manager, lauded DAR for the continued assistance given to her group.

“We are thankful to DAR for considering us as a potential recipient of the proposed coconut value chain boosting project,” Bawik said.

The BPCC is a recipient of the Village Level Farm-focused Enterprise Development (VLFED) project.

It also received VCO processing machines and equipment under the Climate Resilient Farm Productivity Support Project and is now in the process of registration with the Food and Drug Administration.

Aside from palay, Pigcawayan has vast coconut plantations and is known for copra production and its by-products. (PNA)

By mode of transport, almost all of the commodities were traded through water, while the remaining were traded through air.

“Machinery and transport equipment topped in terms of value of traded commodities with PHP68.24 billion or 34.2 percent share to the total domestic trade value in the first quarter of 2023,” PSA said.

Among the regions, Western Visayas recorded the highest value of traded commodities with PHP44.70 billion, followed by Central Visayas with PHP42.90 billion and Eastern Visayas with PHP26.01 billion.

In terms of volume, the PSA said total quantity of domestic trade in in the first quarter reached 5.34 million tons, higher by 56.7 percent from last year’s 3.41 million tons.

This was followed by mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials with 1.25 million tons and machinery and transport equipment with 1.04 million tons.

Central Luzon registered the highest quantity of traded commodities with 1.29 million tons or 24.1 percent share to the total domestic trade in the first quarter of 2023.

This was followed by Central Visayas with 1 million tons and Western Visayas with 660,000 metric tons. (PNA)