MISAMIS ORIENTAL, Dec. 1 - The provincial government of Misamis Oriental headed by Governor Yevgeny Vincente Emano and System President Dr Ambrosio B. Cultura II of the University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines (USTP) signed a memorandum of agreement for the establishment of a processing facility for green coconut at the USTP Cagayan de Oro boardroom.
This will be a collaboration between USTP Northern Mindanao Food Innovation Center (USTP NMFIC) and the Provincial Agriculture Office (PAGRO) of Misamis Oriental to develop a product prototype of bottled coconut water.
Misamis Oriental is known for the sweet tasting coconut known as “Kuyamis” of which the festival in the province is called. Northern Mindanao is also the second biggest supplier of coconut in the country.
Coconut water, which is low in calorie, is exported and is considered a natural energy or sports drink abroad. The water accumulated in the coconut is actually nourishment for the coconut’s growth.
The Provincial Agriculture Office is looking for other products from the coconut that can benefit farmers since the price of copra is on a decline. Among their goal is to replace soft drinks with coconut water.
The Provincial Government of Misamis Oriental - Provincial Agriculture Office (PGMO-PAGRO) will spearhead and allocate the budget for the project while the USTP NMFIC will provide consultancy services during the product development phase and facilitate the research and development activities.
Governor Emano said promoting the green coconut water will help our local farmers, strengthen the coconut industry in the province and encourage coconut farming. “(The coconut) is a dying industry and we need to help it,” Emano added.
USTP System President Dr Ambrosio B. Cultura II extended the university’s support for the project on the bottled coconut water and is looking forward for more partnerships towards increasing the value of farm products.
“We firmly believe that by working together, we can provide significant contribution(s) especially (with) this project. We hope (that) by joining hand in hand with the provincial government, we can create meaningful impact to the lives of the people we serve,” Dr Cultura said.
USTP is working on future engagements between the provincial government as it expands its campus in Villanueva and establishes its Science and Technology Parks in Alubijid and Claveria in the province.
Governor Emano also visited the NMFIC Facility and the Fabrication Laboratory at the USTP Cagayan de Oro campus. (USTP)
Source: Philippines Information Agency (pia.gov.ph)
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