Worthless stock certificates in coco farmers’ hands

This is a reaction to the April 14 editorial of the Inquirer titled “Still beyond their reach.” Allow me to explain that the 1 million unnamed farmers of Cocofed (Philippine Coconut Producers Federation) are the coconut landowners from whom the coco levy was collected during the Marcos martial law regime.

Being a bona fide member of Cocofed, I honestly attest to the fact that I still hold some United Coconut Planters Bank (UCPB) stock certificates.

Likewise, thousands of coconut landowners who are Cocofed members here in the municipality of Pagsanjan and other coconut producing towns, particularly in the third and fourth districts of Laguna, have in their possession worthless UCPB, SMC, etc. stock certificates.

Finally, may I suggest that the Philippine Coconut Authority conduct an updated census of coconut planters all over the country. I personally know that many coconut landowners (all of whom were Cocofed members in Pagsanjan) are already dead.

—CRISOSTOMO B. VILAR,

vice mayor, Pagsanjan, Laguna;

chair, Cocofed, Pagsanjan