The Coconut Farmers and Industry Trust Fund Act or Republic Act (RA) No. 11524 was signed into law by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on February 26, 2021 and became effective on March 13, 2021.

This law will set in motion reforms in the coconut industry and provide efficient utilization of the trust fund in accordance with the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan for the benefit of 2.5 million coconut farmers and their families, and the coconut industry in general.

Pursuant to Section 12 of RA No. 11524, the Trust Fund Management Committee is directed to draft the IRR in order to put flesh into Sections 9 to 11 of this Act.

The Trust Fund Management Committee is composed of the authorized representatives of the Departments of Finance (DOF), of Budget and Management (DBM) and of Justice (DOJ).

For greater transparency and inclusivity, the public can comment on, and provide inputs to, the draft IRR, which can be accessed in the link below. Comments and other inputs can be sent to [email protected] on or before June 3.

Links to downloadable files:

RA 11524: https://forms.gle/e37cuVcxSzYd9fhr9

Draft IRR: https://bit.ly/3fMO81p

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