Unanimously passed in the Senate in October 2020, Republic Act No. 11524 or the Coconut Farmers and Industry Trust Fund Act aims to provide a more equitable distribution of benefits to small coconut farmers. Earlier versions of the measure were vetoed by the Executive due to the lack of critical safeguards. Under Villar’s leadership, amendments were introduced, including caps on land area per beneficiary and mandatory representation of coconut farmers in decision-making bodies — ensuring that smallholders remain at the center of the reform.
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Freedom In Coconut
The law facilitates the utilization of the coco levy fund — an estimated Php 75 billion in assets and cash — accumulated through taxes imposed on coconut farmers during the administration of the late President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. The levy, originally collected to improve the lives of farmers, was instead controversially funneled into corporations allegedly controlled by political and business elites.
After years of legal battles and a landmark 2012 Supreme Court ruling, a portion of these funds was declared to be public in nature and intended to benefit coconut farmers. Yet, until RA 11524, a sustainable, transparent mechanism for its distribution had remained elusive.
With the Philippine Coconut Industry Roadmap now aligning with the Trust Fund Act, the Department of Agriculture, Philippine Coconut Authority, and other implementing agencies are set to roll out programs focused on farmer training, crop diversification, value chain development, and access to credit.
This milestone represents a significant step toward finally correcting historical injustices and ensuring that the country’s coconut farmers — many of whom remain among the poorest — gain long-overdue support.
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