Arroyo signs pact for massive planting of Jatropha

DUMAGUETE CITY, Philippines - President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Friday signed a joint venture agreement with the European Firm Global Tree Trust and Herminio Teves Company, Inc. for the massive planting of jatropha in Tamlang Valley. Former third district representative Herminio Teves spearheaded the massive planting of jatropha for biofuels to expand to some 17,000 hectares through a lease agreement involving P5 million with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)-Negros Oriental. He briefed Arroyo on the progress of jathropa bio-fuel project in Negros Oriental. Teves also oriented the President about the HGT-Bongoyan farm, which is an inter-cropping of jatropha with eggplant and tomatoes as well as seedling beds, bio-grid cassava, jathropa raw oil through trans-esterification method, site of jathropa expeller plant, and production of organic fertilizer through vermin. "Our concern is making unproductive lands productive and useful at the same time generating employment as well as cushion the impact of global warming," said Teves. He explained that their decision to go into bio-diesel fuel production was brought about by the desire to be a catalyst for the improvement of ecology and alleviation of poverty. "We are now feeling the effects of global warming and other signs of environmental degradation," Teves noted. In another development, Teves denied the claims of farmer groups in the community that the jatropha project in Tamlang Valley in southern Negros Oriental caused the rice crisis particularly in that area. Teves cited records at the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) that show 4.07 million hectares of logged-over area exist in the country today. In Negros Oriental, he said out of the 207,039 hectares of denuded forest area, Tamlang covers 24,116 hectares, 10,000 hectares of which are being leased by the Philippine Forest Corporation. The data revealed that Tamlang Valley, formerly a hotbed of insurgency in the late 80s and early 90s, is surrounded by high mountains, with only eight percent to 10 percent flat arable land. Earlier, members of the Kaugmaon group of farmers headed by Fermin Lorico in the district criticized the jatropha plantation of Teves and blamed it for the worsening rice crisis. Teves said the farmers "are barking up the wrong tree," and they should instead examine the success or failure of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program. On Friday, Teves presented a video presentation showing how his project helped poor farmers earn money by planting jatropa not only in Tamlang Valley but also in the hinterland barangays of Siaton, Zamboanguita, and Tayasan. Negros Oriental has been at the forefront in complementing government efforts towards energy supply sufficiency in the country particularly in the field of geothermal and biofuels. The project will help President Arroyo's program aimed at giving livelihood to poor farmers not only in the province but also in the whole country. The signing was held at the Negros Oriental Convention Center. - Sun.Star Dumaguete