ILO highlights coconut industry advances at Caraga trade fair

SIARGAO ISLAND, Philippines (ILO News) — The International Labour Organization (ILO) highlighted emerging opportunities in Siargao’s coconut sector during the 2025 Caraga Coconut Festival, held from 14-16 August 2025 in General Luna in Siargao Island, Philippines.

On the festival’s opening day, ILO Enterprise Development Specialist Hideki Kagohashi presented the results of a Rapid Assessment of the Value Chain Potentials of the Coconut Sector in Siargao, offering insights and recommendations to help farmers and entrepreneurs tap into new markets, including tourism.

© Clemente Ian de Paz/ILO

© Clemente Ian de Paz/ILO

The festival, organized by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Caraga and Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) Caraga in collaboration with the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan (CFIDP) and the Department of Agriculture, celebrated the National Coconut Month by promoting innovation, wellness products, and stronger market linkages for coconut farmers and enterprises.

ILO-supported entrepreneurs, including producers of coconut candies and virgin coconut oil soaps, joined the festival’s three-day trade fair, showcasing their products and connecting with buyers and tourists.

© Clemente Ian de Paz/ILO

© Clemente Ian de Paz/ILO

This participation builds on the ILO’s support for Siargao’s coconut industry, which began in the aftermath of Super Typhoon Odette (Rai). Through the Rebuilding Better Coconut Economy Project, funded by the Government of Japan, the ILO launched an emergency employment programme to help restore damaged coconut farms.

In addition, the project upskilled coconut farmers and their families through a coconut culinary training. It also provided coaching and mentoring to local entrepreneurs and conducted a value-chain analysis to identify growth opportunities in the coconut sector. The initiative was implemented in partnership with the Siargao local government, the Philippine Coconut Authority, and Lokal Lab.

To sustain and expand these gains, the ILO further continued the initiatives under the Formalization of the Informal Economy Project, funded through the Regular Budgetary Supplementary Account with support from the governments of Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden.

This project pioneered a back-to-back Social Protection registration in Siargao, offering one-stop access to social protection, employment and business registration services for informal workers and coconut farmers.

The ILO’s integrated approach, which combines recovery, formalization, and enterprise development continues to support coconut farmers and small producers in Siargao Island, helping them build more climate-resilient, just transition and sustainable livelihoods.