PGMA inspires jatropha farmers in Passi City
October 17, 2009 9:45 am
PASSI CITY, Oct 17 – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo inspired the confidence of farmers here in jatropa production.
President Arroyo met here Saturday some 600 farmers engaged in jatropha plantation in central Panay Island.
The President said the jatropa production would help alleviate and complement the country's constant need for fossil fuel.
Researches showed that jatropha oil is environment-friendly and a natural diesel fuel that can be grown in marginal areas anywhere in the country.
The Philippine National Oil Co. Alternative Fuels Corp. (PNOC-AFC) has put up a jatropa plantation project that covers 800 hectares in 19 barangays here.
The project started in July this year after a memorandum of agreement was forged between PNOC-AFC and city officials here lead by Mayor Elyzer Chavez for a P14.6 million project for 18 months.
Known as a biodiesel fuel plant, Jatropha is a valuable multi-purpose crop eyed to alleviate soil degradation, desertification and deforestation and can be used for bio-energy to replace petro-diesel, for soap production and climatic protection.
Jatropha can also help increase rural incomes, self-sustainability and alleviate poverty for women, elderly, children and men, tribal communities and small farmers. It can as well help increase income from plantations and agro-industries.
Former Passi City mayor Jesry Palmares, a PNOC-AFC director, spearheaded the project as site of another alternative source of fuel and livelihood in Passi’s once idle and unproductive cogonal lands in 19 initial barangays out of total 51 barangays here.
The President had signed Republic Act 9367, or the Biofuels Act of 2006, and directed the PNOC-AFC to spearhead the biofuels project in the country.
Benifredo Matucan, president of the Gemomua Agdahon Mutli-purpose Cooperative, said the project gave a new lease of life for marginal farmers here who solely depend on farming for livelihood.
PNOC pays the farmers P3 per seedling planted and P1,000 per 45 days for fertilizers and other needs for a period of 18 months. In turn, the farmers will sell their jatropha fruits to PNOC after two years at P4 per kilo.
Palmares said that with 600 hectares already planted and another 200 hectares earmarked for expansion, the marginal farmers of Passi are assured of additional and steady livelihood from their jatropha farms.
Palmares assured that Passi farmers are productive and will expand their once cogonal farms to some 2,000 hectares in two years time.
The project sites location in Passi are in barangays Gemomua-Agdahon, Agtabo, Tagubong, Salngan, Bayan, Sto Tomas, Sarapan, Magdungao, Aglalana, Agtambo, Bitaogan, Alimono, Gegacjac, Mula Pula, Buyo, Ayuyan, Nueva Union, Dalicanan and Jaguimitan. (PNA)
RMA/LCPendon/vlo
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