Department of Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala promised PhP50 million additional funds for virgin coconut oil research after the former Department of Health (DOH) Secretary, Dr. Jaime Galvez-Tan, called for increase in budget for research on VCO.

“It is the key product why we were the second largest economy in Asia in the 40’s, 50’s, and 60’s, second only to Japan,” Dr. Galvez-Tan said last February 29, 2012 at the presentation of the research findings on the research done by a team of scientists from the University of Santo Tomas (UST) entitled â€œStudy on the Effect of VCO in Human with Emphasis in Cholesterol” at the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA). He added, â€œIf we want to make a change in our country in the next five years, this is where we can make a mark in the world!”

In his message, Dr. Galvez-Tan, the consultant for the said VCO research, described how the coconut industry used to support the Philippine economy in the past and how the untruthful accusation of health risks from coconut oil has led to the downfall of the industry. He  explained that the popularity of competing vegetable oils such as soy bean and corn oils has severely affected the otherwise growing need for coconut oil in the world market and have resulted to the industry’s eventual defeat. He said, “The Americans bad-mouthed the coconut and replaced it with soy bean oil and corn oil, which were actually found out to be worse because they are trans fats and hydrogenized oils.”

Dr. Galvez-Tan lamented, â€œThe research on coconut oil went nowhere in the last ten years, maybe because there was no money.” By increasing the budget for researches that prove the health benefits and safety of coconut oil, PCA can encourage the rise of coconut industry again. He added, â€œWhat we need here is bring back the coconut to its glory.”

Sec. Alcala immediately answered Dr. Galvez-Tan’s call for an increase in budget at the said event, promising not less than PhP 50 million for research. He said, â€œMakakaasa po kayo na kung sakaling kukulangin po yung pondo ng PCA on research, ihahanda ang pondo that will be coming from the Bureau of Agrucultural Research (BAR) para madagdagan. Maybe not less than PhP50 million will be allocated for research. (You can expect in case the PCA’s fund for research is insufficient, an additional amount is ready coming from the BAR. Maybe not less than PhP 50 million will be allocated for research.)”