Franklin Baker Opens P2 Billion Coconut Processing Plant In Davao Del Sur Under Pres. Duterte

The Philippines will soon become a major player in the production and marketing of coconut water in the international market as the 100-year-old Franklin Baker Company opens a P2-Billion Processing Facility in Davao del Sur province, according to Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol.

The facility Darong, Sta. Cruz town which was inaugurated on Thursday, January 19, is designed to produce 30-Million liters of coconut water, 20-Million liters of virgin coconut oil, 15-Million liters of coconut milk and 120-Million pounds of desiccated coconut, said Sec. Piñol.

“To produce these, Franklin Baker Company, formerly owned by American Companies General Food and Kraft Food, needs 320,000-metric tons of coconuts every year or 400,000 coconuts every day,” said the Agriculture Chief.

Franklin Baker’s Chief Executive Officer, Jerome Lorenzo, said when fully operational the Darong, Sta. Cruz processing facility would be needing about 2 million coconuts every day.

“Barely after the new facility was commissioned, coconut farmers in the Southern Mindanao area already felt the benefits of this new project of the iconic coconut processing company which is now owned by Indian and Filipino investors,” said Sec. Piñol.

Coconut farmers reported that a piece of unhusked coconut which used to fetch P2.50 is now being bought for P10.

Lorenzo said the coconut water produced from the facility will be sold in the market in the form of Tetrapaks which will be available in over 50 countries all over the world.

“During the inauguration rites, I told officers of Franklin Baker and the stakeholders present that while the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) which supervises the coconut industry is not under the Department of Agriculture, the agency will prioritize the replanting of coconuts all over the country as a major agricultural undertaking,” said Sec. Piñol.

The Department of Agriculture is now promoting the planting of coconut, especially the aromatic variety for coconut water, as a second crop to major export commodities like cacao, coffee, Abaca and pineapple.

The Darong, Sta. Cruz facility which is the third for Franklin Baker Company in the Philippines is expected to boost the income of coconut farmers who are among the poorest in the country.