May 16, 2025 – Alegria, Tuburan, Cebu — Representatives from the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech) and the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) conducted a pre-assessment visit to the Alegria Farmers Agriculture Cooperative (AFACO) in support of the cooperative’s proposed cocopeat production and commercialization project, a project proposal made possible with the assistance of a team of researchers and community extension team from the College of Technology and College of Engineering of Cebu Technological University (CTU) Tuburan Campus headed by Engr. Fernando N. Mangubat Jr., Dean of the College of Technology, and Engr. Naomi A. Bajao, CTU Project Lead Proponent. CTU’s assistance in the endeavor is part of the community extension project, EDP HaTSPoTSCC (Electricity Decarbonization Program: Harnessing The Sun’s Power Through Sustainable Community Cooperation), now in its third phase.
The visit is part of the initial evaluation process to determine the project’s feasibility and alignment with national initiatives on coconut industry development. AFACO, based in Alegria, Cebu, is one of CTU Tuburan’s business incubatees under the Regional Agri-Aqua Innovation System Enhancement (RAISE) Program.
AFACO’s cocopeat project aims to provide sustainable livelihood opportunities for local coconut farmers by utilizing coconut husks for value-added products such as cocopeat, which has a growing demand in both local and international markets for agriculture and horticulture applications.
The pre-assessment team engaged in discussions with AFACO officers, inspected the proposed production site, and reviewed the cooperative’s business plans and operational readiness.
Following the site visit, the group was welcomed at the renowned Tuburan 360 by newly-elected Tuburan Mayor Engr. CD Diamante and outgoing Mayor Hon. Democrito “Aljun” Diamante. The meeting provided an opportunity for deeper discussions on the proposal and opened doors for other potential collaborations that could benefit the agricultural sector and local communities in the region.
The initiative marks a step forward in empowering rural communities through innovation, agripreneurship, and strong institutional support.
Update via Engr. Naomi Bajao | Project Leader