MESSAGES BY MR. MANUEL F.

PIÑOL
SECRETARY, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
(DELIVERED BY DR. DIONISIO ALVINDIA)

ON THE OCCASION

THE 20TH MEETING OF THE NATIONAL FOCAL POINT

FOR THE ASEAN COCOA CLUB (ACC) ON ASEAN COOPERATION AND
JOINT APPROACHES IN AGRICULTURE AND FOREST PRODUCTS
PROMOTION SCHEME

19 May 2017
De La Salle University, Manila, Philippines
______________________________________________________________________________

My warmest congratulations and deepest appreciation for the organizers of this endeavor for
taking the first big step in the realization of putting the Philippines into the world map of cocoa
industry. There is no effort too small to be neglected in bringing about the progress we sought for
through the years to the Philippine agriculture. The significance of this forum is in bringing
together the stakeholders of the emerging cacao industry to plan a roadmap and work together
towards attaining the millennial goal of sustainable agricultural industry. I believe that through
the ASEAN Cocoa Club this vision will succeed because we started it right by bringing science
and technology into the issue. The government had invested on native talents and through that
pool of experts is all it takes nourish and sustain a niche of a vigorous and competitive cacao
industry at present and into the future. The paradigm of piecemeal approaches to agricultural
problems and the failure to dream big had turned a lot of hopes into disappointments. We have
learned those lessons only too well. The cacao industry is full of opportunities and hope for a
better life for those who would venture into it. We are prepared to take on the demands of a
market-driven industry as we are confident that at present we possess the necessary information,
skills and most of all the benefits of scientific technologies in terms of improved practices,
machineries and organic fertilizers and pest management inputs. Therefore we commit ourselves
to strive in bringing to reality the promises of a viable market industry for cacao through
integration and cooperation, and in so doing we will prove that we will not only be equal to the

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challenges but we will be above any challenges we will encounter and that we will prevail.
Teknolohiyang Filipino, ipagmalaki sa buong mundo.

Mabuhay tayong lahat

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