The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has opened a P2.41 million coconut oil processing facility in Tangub City, Misamis Occidental, in a bid to help local farmers capture more value from their harvests and expand the province’s coconut-based industries.
Launched on October 8, the Shared Service Facility (SSF) for Coconut Cooking Oil Processing will convert locally produced copra into cooking oil, creating opportunities to move beyond raw material sales toward higher-value products.
The facility was turned over to the Tangub City government, with the Misamis Occidental Coconut Farmers and Processors Association (MOCOFPA) designated as its direct beneficiary. The project aims to support local production, improve farmers’ earning potential and generate employment through processing activities.
Misamis Occidental has approximately 97,631 hectares devoted to coconut farming and produces an average of 41,093 metric tons of copra annually. Despite this substantial supply, the province has lacked an established local facility for processing coconut cooking oil, limiting opportunities to develop this segment of the industry.
The new facility is equipped with a white copra drying system, hammer mill, copra expeller, settling tanks, oil pump, filter press, deodorizer and storage tanks. The equipment is intended to support the conversion of copra into finished cooking oil for potential commercial distribution.
DTI Region 10 Director Ruel Paclipan said expanding local processing capacity was important to strengthening the province’s coconut industry.
“Kani usa ni sa pamaagi na ma-improve nato ang atong industry sector (This is one of the ways we can improve our industry sector),” Paclipan said.
He also emphasized the need for producers to meet market requirements consistently, particularly in product quality, supply volume and delivery schedules.
The project forms part of DTI’s SSF program, which provides shared machinery and equipment to micro, small and medium enterprises to address technology gaps, improve productivity and develop higher-value products.
Whether the facility delivers sustained income gains will depend on its utilization, access to buyers and the association’s ability to maintain consistent production and meet commercial demand.
