Davao City:Coconut farmers in the Davao Region may soon benefit from a new market for agricultural waste as foreign investors explore the establishment of a large-scale coconut shell processing facility in Davao del Norte. This initiative is being supported by the Department of Agriculture-Region 11 (DA-11).
According to Philippines News Agency, the DA-11's Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division (AMAD) has conducted site inspections across six potential locations with representatives from Tianjin Tianchang Company of China and Borneo New Energy Holding Berhad of Malaysia. The Anflo Industrial Estate in Davao del Norte has been identified as the leading candidate for housing the warehouse and processing hub.
Discussions have commenced with joint venture representatives, Anflo managers, and officials from the Philippine Economic Zone Authority to align on industrial requirements, spatial arrangements, and development agreements. The proposed venture aims to process about 20,000 metric tons of coconut shells annually into products such as activated carbon, charcoal briquettes, shisha charcoal, and honeycomb activated carbon blocks.
Coconut shells, traditionally viewed as low-value waste, present an opportunity for local farming communities to gain supplementary income. Through the new facility, coconut-producing communities could access new market outlets, maximizing the value of their harvests.
Kiing Teck Wee, representing Borneo New Energy Holding Berhad, has reaffirmed their dedication to advancing discussions that benefit both the commercial venture and local coconut farmers. The investment opportunity resulted from market engagements during the Sabah International Expo 2026 in Kota Kinabalu.
DA-11 Technical Director for Operations Marie Ann Constantino emphasized the importance of continued collaboration with private sector partners and government agencies to secure foreign investments and enhance value-adding activities within the region's coconut sector.
