LINGAYEN—Expect the towns of Aguilar and Bugallon to be known for aromatic scent if the plan to establish ilang-ilang (cananga odorata) plantation and oil extraction facility is pursued.

Second District Rep. Leopoldo Bataoil said a people’s organization in Bugallon already has a memorandum of agreement with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) for the project.

Second District Rep. Leopoldo Bataoil said a people’s organization in Bugallon already has a memorandum of agreement with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) for the project.

“The DENR will provide the funds for the planting of the trees for a private-public partnership (for the ilang-ilang project),” Bataoil said.

Bataoil revealed he and his high school classmate, Fred Reyes of the Chemworld Fragrance Factory, visited Sitio Mapita, Brgy. Laoag in Aguilar, another identified ilang-ilang plantation project site.

The Sitio is a home to more or less 800 tribal people from three tribes namely Ibaloi, Kankana-ey, and Bag-o.

Reyes said there is a big demand for ilang-ilang oil in and outside the country. Ilang-ilang, on an average, takes five years to bear flowers.

If the project materializes, Pangasinan will produce ilang-ilang oil for fragrance manufacturing companies in the Philippines and France.

Reyes stressed that the community will spearhead the plantation and extraction, and the company will provide essentially the technology.

The National Irrigation Administration will be tapped to provide small water impounding systems since the “very hot” climate, according to the DENR, may decrease ilang-ilang’s survival rate.

A meeting with the people’s organization and concerned local government units is already being organized.

The plant originated in the Philippines but the top ilang-ilang producer in the world at present is the Comoros Island. (Johanne R. Macob)

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