Cebu 4th district Rep. Benhur Salimbangon expressed his full commitment to biofuel projects for his district as it will create more jobs and generate economic activity.
Salimbangon together with Peter Anthony Abaya, the president of the Philippine National Oil Company signed a memorandum of agreement yesterday at the Marco Polo Plaza in a bid to establish a model nursery where Jathropa cultivation and farming techniques and other related technologies shall be developed.
The MOA also aims to ensure continuous supply of feedstock by securing agreements for the projected commercial biodiesel production as well as to provide livelihood for the members of the community and act as catalyst for economic activity.
Abaya said that they have chosen the fourth district for this project and have identified 5,000 hectares for the plantation of Jathropa seedlings.
Salimbangon explained that sugarcane farmers in his district, who barely earn P3,000 per year per hectare could no longer cope with the rising cost of living and planting Jathropa can certainly improve its income to P30,000 per year per hectare.
“Sugarcane in the fourth district is not as sweet as before. Sugarcane production is so acute and the income of the farmers is so little and now we have found a solution to this problem, Jathropa is the solution,” Salimbangon said in his speech.
Jathropa or locally known as “tuba-tuba” it is now been discovered as a good biodiesel alternative or additive. Very cost-effective and very close to the chemical properties of diesel fuel we are using today. Unlike the coconut oil or alcohol additive, which are expensive to produce, Jathropa is much cheaper.
Jathropa Seeds are sun dried and grounded to extract oil from it. Three kilos of seeds yield one liter of oil.
Salimbangon added that the 5,000 hectare lot in his district is ready for planting and cultivation since the beneficiaries are already organized and ready to start the project.
“Cebu is ready for this and I will talk with the governor to make this project a province-wide program. We will utilize every square inch of barren lands to ensure the success of this program,” the Cebu lawmaker said.
Biodiesel is reportedly the most valuable form of renewable energy that can be used directly in any existing, unmodified diesel engine.
It creates new markets for agricultural products and stimulates rural development because bio-fuels are generated from crops and hold enormous potential for farmers.
Abaya said that Jathropa seeds are so difficult to find that they had to search in more than 600 places in the country and now they are bringing in to the fourth district two million Jathropa seedlings.
PNOC and the fourth district has targeted to plant the seedlings to at least 20,000 hectares from this year to 2011, with a total of 12,952 beneficiaries.
PNOC-Alternative Fuels Corporation has also assured to provide the required technical knowledge and training to the selected grower and assure a ready market by purchasing all the seeds produced from the Jathropa at an agreed price
Under the MOA, the fourth district is also obliged to extend its best efforts in securing and expediting the necessary governmental approvals, clearances, local incentives and other requirements pertinent to the cultivation of Jathropa. — Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon/BRP