Antique: A shared facility for the processing of integrated white copra and coconut cooking oil is currently being constructed in Barangay Funda, Hamtic, aimed at enhancing the livelihood of farmers in Antique. According to Philippines News Agency, the project is funded under the Coconut Farmers Trust and Industry Fund Act and is being implemented by the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization. The facility, which broke ground on January 16, has a budget of PHP42 million, allocating PHP30 million for the building, PHP10 million for machinery, and PHP2 million for a hauling truck. The project will be managed by the local government with the Hamtic Coconut Farmers Marketing Cooperative (HCFMC) as the primary beneficiary. Lourdes Sarad, the general manager of HCFMC, explained that their members are primarily coconut farmers producing copra. Due to low income from copra, they are now venturing into coconut cooking oil production. The current buying price for copra is PHP40 per kilo, whi ch is an improvement from two years ago when it was only PHP10 per kilo. The building is expected to be completed by May, with plans to purchase coconuts from members at PHP8 each and process them into cooking oil, which will be sold for PHP95 per liter. Sarad detailed that they plan to produce 3,000 liters of cooking oil daily from the 5,000 nuts they will purchase from members and other coconut farmers in the province. Additionally, 17 cooperative members will be directly employed once the processing center begins operations, with other members eligible for a patronage refund. The cooperative, established on April 19, 2023, currently has 120 members and intends to sell the cooking oil to its members and other cooperatives that will assist in marketing the product.