Manila, June 19 -- To further boost local productivity and regain the global top spot, the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) will plant 50 million coconut trees next year, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said Thursday.

This is part of the administration's five-year aggressive planting targets of 100 million coconut trees until 2028 in line with the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.

"The initial target for next year was 25 million trees, but on the orders of President Marcos, we are doubling our efforts. Our new goal for 2026 is to plant 50 million new coconut trees," Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said in a statement.

At least 15 million coconut trees are targeted to be planted within the year, on top o...