Mintal, Davao City – The Palarong Pambansa, the national games which participated in by over 20,000 athletes and spectators, opens here today with already one historic record in the books – the introduction of “Buko” Water as the official energy drink.
President Rody Duterte is set to open the Games shortly after arriving from China.
This is the first time the lowly “Buko” which is usually sold by vendors in “kariton” is given recognition as a health drink in a national event.
The Department of Education, the City Government of Davao and the Department of Agriculture have agreed to promote the country’s green coconut by naming it as the health and energy drink of the annual tournament.
DepEd Secretary Leonor Briones and Palarong Pambansa Secretary General Undersecretary Revsee Escobedo have also committed to designate “Buko” Water as the official energy drink of succeeding national games.
Also featured in today’s sports fest are bamboo straws harvested from tribal ancestral domains which will be used as straws for the coconut water.
Harvesting small bamboos to replace plastic straws could provide Indigenous People’s comnunities with income.
It is also expected to the planting and propagation of small bamboos in open areas in the Ancestral Domains.
The promotion of Coconut Water as official energy drink of a national sports event is expected to increase consumer awareness on the health benefits of “Buko.”
Increased consumption of young coconuts could diffuse the glut of copra and coconut oil in the market which resulted in very low farm gate prices of copra.
The Philippines produces 15-billion nuts every year and is the leading exporter of Coconut oil.
(Photos taken during late lunch today at Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) Compound at Bago Oshiro, Mintal, Davao City.)
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