TACLOBAN CITY-Eastern Visayas could expect a multi-billion package of investments from investors who have expressed interest to venture

in the magnitude of coconut resources in the region this year. Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) regional director Edilberto Nierva said at least five companies with foreign counterparts have approached their agency expressing eagerness to invest in buko juice and coco water. There have been some studies that were conducted already by these local investors that are very willing to utilize our magnitude of coconut resources here particularly in Leyte, he said but he chose not to disclose the names of the companies pending finalization of their commitments. Local companies in the country tapped by Vita Coco and Pepsi Cola International, two of the major companies in United States that have earlier committed to spend billions to meet the international demand for coco water, have eyed Eastern Visayas as one of the possible business hubs for said industry because of the regions abundance to coconut trees, Nierva informed. Based on statistics, the official said the region has an estimated annual coconut production of 2 billion nuts. He said one of the companies demanded if the region can provide them a supply of 500, 000 nuts a day. They asked us if we can produce 500, 000 nuts everyday. So that would be 15 million per month or more or less 180 million per year which would mean that we are really sufficient by basing our annual production to meet their demand, he told Leyte Samar Daily Express in an interview. To sustain the high demand, he said they are now planning to undertake a massive nut planting across the region. By June this year, he said one company will already start their operations. He said the companies will prioritize in coco water investments from mature coconuts as it contains high electrolytes that are needed for rehydration. According to them, aside from the coconut waters benefit as an alternative energy drink, they want to utilize the water from mature coconuts that are just being wasted during the process of copra production, he said. Buko juice, the fresh water from young nuts, has also earned a different investment target from different companies. While the investors had a positive outlook of putting up coco industries, Nierva said that the high cost of electricity in the region and the ease in transporting nuts from farms to their manufacturing field were giving a discouraging concern to these companies. The high electricity rate is one concern they are most worried of. But I am optimistic that this will not easily kill their investments because of the regions potential to meet their demand. Right now, they are looking for areas that have accessible transportations and are near in port areas where they could put up their main center of business, the PCA regional director said. (ALVIN P. CARDINES) April 4, 2012