By KHADIJAH SALACOP/CMU Intern
FROM copra and coconut oil to cosmetics, home décor, and dairy alternatives, the Davao Region is shifting its focus toward higher-value coconut products as officials push to create bigger income opportunities for coconut farmers and local enterprises.
Speaking during the Habi at Kape forum in Abreeza on Wednesday, July 8, Engineer Maria Victoria Placer, Department of Trade and Industry-Davao del Sur provincial director, said the industry is moving beyond traditional coconut products by developing more value-added goods that can compete in wider markets.
She said the initiative aims to increase farmers’ earnings while expanding business opportunities for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
Placer, also the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan (CFIDP) regional champion, said farmers have traditionally relied on selling copra and fresh nuts to processors, but value-adding activities now allow them to earn from a wider range of products.
Aside from generating additional income, the initiative is expected to create employment, attract more buyers, and strengthen local economies through coconut-based enterprises and cooperatives.
Among the products that DTI hopes to expand are non-food coconut products such as wearables, home styles, gifts, toys, housewares, Christmas decorations, and plant-based cosmetics. Placer said these products present greater market opportunities compared with traditional coconut commodities, noting that consumer demand has become more diverse and increasingly health-conscious.
She also highlighted coconut cream and coconut milk as products with growing international potential, particularly in markets where consumers seek alternatives to dairy. Based on the region’s experience in previous international trade fairs, Placer said such products have attracted interest because they serve as plant-based substitutes for milk in food and beverages.
To improve the competitiveness of coconut products, Placer said DTI has been working with the Design Center Philippines to enhance product design, packaging, and labeling. The agency is also developing non-food coconut products that can be showcased not only in the Davao Region but also in national and international trade fairs.
She added that the upcoming Davao Region Coconut Philippines Trade Fair is intended to do more than display products. Before the event, participating enterprises undergo product development and enhancement, while after the trade fair, DTI conducts buyer follow-ups, business-to-business meetings, and monitors negotiated transactions to help coconut-based enterprises sustain market opportunities beyond the exhibition itself.
Placer said the initiative forms part of the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan (CFIDP), where DTI serves as one of the implementing agencies responsible for marketing, research, and promotion.
The agency aims to help coconut cooperatives and MSMEs improve the livelihoods of coconut farmers while expanding the reach of Philippine coconut products through trade fairs, market matching activities, and product enhancement programs.
The Davao Region Coconut Philippines Trade Fair will run from July 28 to Aug. 3 at SM Lanang, alongside the Davao Region Coconut Cooperative Summit. The event is part of DTI’s broader effort to connect locally developed coconut products with buyers in domestic and international markets.
