I read with great interest the report that Pepsi Cola Philippines, through its subsidiary Vita Coco, with local company AgriNurture Inc. (ANI), has negotiated with Camarines Sur Gov. Luis Raymund “LRay” Villafuerte, to put up a facility to mass produce tetrapaks of coconut water. (Inquirer, 9/23/11) Moreover, the corporation has pledged to support large-scale planting of coconut trees in the Bicol region.
In view of this, I strongly suggest that Pepsi also build facilities to mass produce coconut water in the Southern Tagalog region, particularly Laguna and Quezon provinces, where there are still thousands of coconut trees. Certainly, these will “no doubt bring increased job opportunities” for coconut farmers in the provinces and “create additional export revenue for the country” as Jonathan Burth, director of operations of Vita Coco, envisions.
—CRISOSTOMO B. VILAR,
vice mayor,
Pagsanjan, Laguna;
chair, Cocofed,
Pagsanjan Chapter