PCA hails biggest donor of nursery, earwig lab and office

By NINFA B. QUIRANTE (PIA Samar)
June 4, 2009

CALBAYOG CITY, Samar  –  The Philippine Coconut Industry (PCA) Regional Office 8 through Regional Manager Edilberto Nierva hailed President of Samar Coco, Engr. Julio Co for donating close to P2M to establish a coco nursery, earwig lab and a PCA satellite office in Calbayog City.

In the blessing of the coco nursery on Wednesday, Nierva profusely thanked the low profile Co who just smiled at the accolades heaped on him by Nierva and Mayor Mel Sarmiento.

According to Meinard Montano, PCA Coconut Development Officer (CDO) in Calbayog City, Co has been helping PCA since 2004 by funding coconut nurseries as the businessman was deeply concerned that coconut productivity was dwindling.

Montano then proposed a coconut nursery which Co immediately approved.

The first coco nursery, said Montano had only 10 thousand seed nuts and yearly then, it became automatic for Co to finance the venture while working closely with the hardworking Montano.

The seed nuts were given free to coconut farmers.

Presently erected at Barangay Trinidad, Calbayog City is a modest PCA office cum Earwig lab, a coconut nursery housing some 15,000 seed nuts along with suggested intercrops like eggplants, pechay and other greens.

Nierva in his message said that Montano’s close partnership with Co will surely benefit coconut farmers in the fist district of Samar.

Co, meanwhile said he did not think twice to fund a noble cause as a form of doing his corporate social responsibility.