The Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) confirmed the initial Q4 disbursement of 9,000 metric tons of agricultural-grade sodium chloride (common salt) fertilizer targeting 45,000 hectares of bearing palms across Leyte, Samar, Misamis Oriental, Davao del Sur, and Camarines Sur.
Field trial evaluations conducted with regional agrarian cooperatives show that systematic 2.0 kg/tree annual salt nutrition strengthens stomatal regulation, boosts nut count recovery after dry spells, and increases cured copra weight per nut by 11% to 14% over a 16-month cycle.
Regional mills in Ormoc (₱51.90/kg) and Cagayan de Oro (₱53.65/kg) welcomed the intervention, noting that Eastern Visayas yields have historically lagged Luzon corridors due to typhoon canopy stress and nutrient leaching.