Filipinos still looking to travel despite inflation, Klook says PCA vows improved coconut production via modernization

The Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) assured Tuesday of the continuous expansion and modernization of the country’s coconut industry.

During the Laging Handa public briefing, PCA administrator Roel Rosales said the administration under the agricultural helm of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is keen to boost coconut production.

“Gusto po nating mapalawak lalo ang industriya ng niyog sa Pilipinas dahil ito nga ay ating source of income… So tuluy-tuloy po ang pagtatanim natin at in this case, ang tinatanim natin is mas mahuhusay na uri ng pananim –ang tawag po natin dito ay coconut hybrid, ito po ay combination ng good quality ng tall variety at dwarf variety (We want to expand the coconut industry in the Philippines because this is our source of income… So, we are continuously planting at this case and we are planting excellent ones. It’s what we call coconut hybrid or the combination of good quality of tall and dwarf variety),” he said.

Rosales said this is the combination of the “best qualities” of both varieties which help the tree to bear more fruit at an earlier period.

ManyFilipinos are eager to travel again but they have become more “intentional” with how and where they spend their money as rising inflation shrinks funds for leisure spending, according to a study released by travel e-commerce platform Klook.

He said the strategy can help meet the country’s need to produce both food and non-food industrial products.

Under the coconut expansion program, the PCA carries comprehensive strategies including hybridization, fertilization intervention for a quick turnaround and intercropping or farm diversification for farmers’ alternative source of income.

“May alternative income ang coconut farmer ‘pag medyo mababa po ang presyo ng copra. Pwede rin po tayong mag-alaga ng hayop, may mga programa din po na nauukol dito (We have an alternative income for coconut farmers if the price of copra drops. We can raise animals under an appropriate program for this),” he added.

The PCA said coconut farmers also benefited under the previous administration’s Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Fund.

This entails a comprehensive program for production, intercropping, training, calamity

At least 87 percent of Filipinos surveyed by Klook are eager to travel again, according to the company’s Travel Pulse study conducted in late 2022.

Out of this, 17 percent have made the bookings, which is considered moderate compared to other markets, Klook Philippines and Thailand General Manager Michelle Ho said in a briefing.

The study also showed that 44 percent of Filipino outbound travelers now prefer longer durations with 6 to 9 days, Ho said. Forty percent prefer to travel by 3 to 5 days and 38 percent for 1 to 2 days.

“We realized how resilient the travel industry is in such as way that despite these macroeconomic conditions preventing people to have that discretionary spending that they used to have preCOVID, people are still choosing whatever savings that they have to travel,” Ho said.

“We’re seeing that a lot of Filipinos are choosing longer duration for travel and that forms part of I would say traveling less frequently but more intentional. More intentional travel is the one thing that we’re seeing,” she added.

Although 79 percent of Filipino travelers surveyed are still anxious to travel, the study showed that 75 percent are “willing to spend some amount” to travel, Klook said.

Domestic bookings grew 87 percent in 2022, overshooting the pre-pandemic levels, the study showed.

FFILIPINOS, P10