SAN PABLO CITY – The local government of San Pablo City broke the Guinness World Record for most people planting coconut seedlings simultaneously in different venues, a title formerly held by Nagapattinam District in India.

Driven by a desire to reclaim the city's former title as the country's top coconut producer and to revive the industry, Mayor Najie Gapangada spearheaded the planting of 11,000 coconut seedlings in 15 minutes in 12 villages.

India’s previous record was not immediately known.

The main planting site on Friday was an eight-hectare land owned by Philip Young, special assistant to Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr.

Thousands of volunteers, including students, civic organizations, and government employees, participated in the synchronized planting.

The seedlings were provided by the City Agriculturist Office and the Philippine Coconut Authority.

In his speech before the planting, Gapangada said the initiative also replaced trees from a 500-hectare site where an industrial zone will rise.

“The event marks the beginning of a massive three-year coconut planting program to restore San Pablo City’s standing as the number one coconut-producing area in the Philippines,” Gapangada said in a Facebook post.

“Planting coconuts is not just the responsibility of the government. Community participation is vital. Government and citizens must work together.”

Before the official awarding, Guinness adjudicator Swapnil Dangarikar visited the other planting sites to validate the record. 

SAN PABLO LGU PHOTO