TACLOBAN CITY – The virgin coconut oil production, which id being promoted in the region for about two years now, still remains in an “infant stage” said Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA-8) regional manager Edilberto Nierva.

But in an interview with Leyte Samar Daily Express, Nierva was quick in saying that though “we are slow on the production of virgin coconut oil, we have to move surely.”

Nierva pointed out that virgin coconut oil production or processing must follow strictly the quality standards set because our target is to have both domestic and international market for this, otherwise our virgin oil produce urn the region will fall “inferior” to other oils.

He said that the region has but a few virgin oil producers already yet all of them are still “backyards producers” at present.

“It’s not just a matter of production… this is one reason why virgin coconut oil production in the region is not yet that developed and well-know of ,” Nierva said.

He added that the PCA is now conducting training on groups of people that are willing to- venture into virgin coconut oil production. However, he stressed that these people must be trustworthy enough that they will not produce oil products outside the standards set.

Nierva for his part shared the unfortune situation of out Nata de Coco then, when one time an exported product to Japan was rejected after found to have been inferior in quality. This started the downfall of Nata de Coco which Nierva doesn’t want to happen to virgin coconut oil production especially in the region.

“That’s why we are doing the training on production of virgin oil step-by-step…we also do not want that at worst cases, fake virgin oil that is way of below the standards would come out in the market,” he said.

Nierva said his office is currently doing public consultations and trainings as well on this.

Last Oct. 27 this year they visited Ormoc City and last Nov. 11 Nierva also conferred with would - be producers of virgin coconut oil in the region who are all in the private sector.

The efforts of PCA for the promotion of virgin coconut oil in the region are also being done in cooperation with the Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD-8) and the Department of Health (DOH-8).