OROQUIETA CITY, Misamis Occidental, April 5 (PIA)--To revive the coconut industry and aid in expanding opportunities for employment, 2,000 workers will be employed in the new coconut plantation located at Barangay Panansalan, Plaridel, Misamis Occidental through the municipal government and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)-10.

The Local Government Unit of Plaridel tapped the employment facilitation services of DOLE-10 thru Misamis Occidental Provincial Field Office of the said vacancies.

Peter Paul Philippines, a Filipino-owned corporation with its affiliated company, Consolidated Coconut Corporation represented by the Assistant Vice President for Logistics and Special Projects, Quirino "Quing" Panganiban said this is their third branch office in the Philippines, the first in Candelaria, Quezon Province which is in existence for 75 years, and the second in Sorsogon Province since the year 2012.

As an expansion of their operation, Panganiban said the corporation is hopeful that the new plantation will achieve the same sustainability with their other branches while aiming to produce 250,000 coconut husks daily to be processed into desiccated coconut, virgin coconut oil, pairing oil, pairing cake for animal feeds, coconut water concentrate and other high-value products.

Currently, the groundwork of the 5.7 hectare area has employed 73 construction workers and is expected to be completed in 10 to 12 months.

Panganiban said the volume of husks needed daily would require manpower of estimated 800 workers, specifically the skilled workers, laborers, and office staff. The required number of manpower would go as high as 2,000 when the plantation goes into full operation by the year 2022.

Meanwhile, DOLE-MisOcc Chief Leonardo Rodrigo said, "MisOcc province is predominantly agricultural in nature, thus, coconut plantation is a booming industry." He recognized the corporation's employment generation towards economic growth and the uplifting of the standard of living of the constituents in the province particularly in Plaridel.

Rodrigo appreciated the efforts of the corporation for the acquisition of new skills and improvement of life of the workers that can benefit themselves, their families, the municipality and the wider economy.

Last March 2021, Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) Chairperson Emmanuel Pinol graced the forum consultation with the Consolidated Coconut Corporation and the Coconut Farmers of Misamis Occidental.

Moreover, MinDA committed to link up with the coconut farmers associations and cooperatives in Northern Mindanao, Zamboanga Peninsula and the Bangsangmoro Regions with the new facility in Plaridel for a low price of their produce.

One affirmative outcome of the forum was the discussion on employment sustainability through hiring any qualified family member of the construction worker as office staff or for the production services after the building facility is done.

The workers represented by Geralden Gumapac, 35, from Barangay Panansalan, as the time-keeper of the ongoing construction extended his gratitude to the corporation in behalf of his co-workers, "Mura ni ug one in a million opportunity diri sa among lugar samot na sa panahon karon nga pandemic pa. Dako gayud kaayo ug tabang ni nga trabaho sa amoa samot na sa mga laborer nga wala jud stable nga work."

(This is a one in a million opportunity in our municipality especially in this time of pandemic. This work opportunity is really a big help to us especially to the laborers who do not have stable work).

DOLE-10 committed to provide guidance to the workers to attain a productive, remunerative and secured or decent employment. (DOLE-MisOcc/PIA10)