P2-M biodiesel project set up in Laguna district

MANILA, Philippines - Legislators recently launched a project designed to help coconut farmers in the 16 municipalities of Laguna’s fourth district earn more income by planting jatropha. Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri and Laguna Rep. Edgar San Luis (4th district) spoke of the project during a farmer’s forum last week in the University of the Philippines-Los Baños (UPLB). "It has been discussed that farmers intercrop jatropha with coconut, to further utilize their lands and to give them much-needed income," Mr. Zubiri said in an interview. He said his office will provide P2 million to cover the cost of setting up a nursery for jatropha seedlings, financial assistance to UPLB for its logistic support to the project, as well as equipment for jatropha planting. The municipalities of the 4th district are: Cavinti, Famy, Kalayaan, Luisiana, Lumban, Mabitac, Magdalena, Majayjay, Paete, Pagsanjan, Pakil, Pangil, Pila, Santa Cruz, Santa Maria and Siniloan. Mr. Zubiri noted that the district is dominated by upland areas which are perfect for planting jatropha. Jatropha, a non-edible crop which can thrive in rugged terrain and marginal lands, is being promoted by the government as a source of biofuel, along with sugarcane and coconut. Laguna has 154,592.9 hectares of rolling areas, hills and mountains. Liborio S. Cabanilla, dean of UPLB’s College of Economics and Management, said there are a lot of marginal land not being used. The district concerned accounts for 46% of Laguna’s 175,973-hectare total land area. Mr. San Luis and the local government will distribute jatropha seedlings, set up cooperatives, financial and technical assistance to farmers, while Mr. Cabanilla said the nursery for jatropha seedlings is in place, and the project may start next month. - BusinessWorld