Iloilo City – The Agrinnovate 2.0 Forum, held on August 28, 2025 at Hotel del Rio, brought together over 100 farmers, agriculture students, MSMEs, and agriculture stakeholders to highlight the coconut industry’s role in sustainable farming, innovation, and enterprise development.
The event, co-organized by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry- Iloilo Chapter, Inc. (PCCI Iloilo) and the Iloilo Provincial Government, is part of the week-long Iloilo Provincial Coconut Week Celebration with the theme “Niyog: Puno ng Buhay, Isulong ng mga Kaagapay para sa Kaunlaran at Masaganang Pamumuhay.”
Mr. Jerduen “Noi” L. Dongor, VP for External Affairs of PCCI Iloilo and Co-Chair of Agrinnovate 2.0, opened the forum with a message on the importance of collaboration between farmers, government agencies, and the private sector in advancing agriculture.
The plenary sessions featured discussions on:
- CFIDP Programs and Coconut-Based Farming Systems by Mr. Reinhart Kevin Villan of the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA);
- Fertilization in Coconut Farming by Quanergy Agri Trading;
- Intercropping Strategies with Coconut by Mr. Relvin B. Paragua of the Department of Agriculture Region VI; and
- Digital Marketing and E-Commerce Strategies for Small Stakeholders by Ms. Shayne J. Taganao of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Iloilo.
The forum also featured a Market Matching Session, facilitated by DTI Iloilo, where 10 coconut-based MSMEs were connected with buyers from PCCI Iloilo member companies, creating direct opportunities for partnerships and trade.
In the afternoon session, Dr. Ildefonso T. Toledo, Provincial Agriculturist, highlighted the significance of agriculture as one of the priority programs of the Iloilo Provincial Government. He also expressed gratitude for the strong partnership with PCCI Iloilo, now on its second leg of Agrinnovate which began in April 2025 with the launch of the first Agrinnovate Summit.
In his closing message, Mr. Jonathan Ed V. Cañuto, Program Chair of Agrinnovate 2.0, emphasized the value of the forum in creating a platform for knowledge sharing and linkages for agri-entrepreneurship.
The event concluded with the presentation of plaques of appreciation to the resource speakers and partners, marking another milestone in advancing agriculture and empowering farmers in Iloilo.
#PCCIIloilo #Agrinnovate2025
