Ilang-ilang plantation project underway
2ND DISTRICT’S LIVELIHOOD PROJECT
BUGALLON —People’s organizations in three towns are set to establish separate nurseries of ilang-ilang (cananga odorata) plants to supply the requirements of a foreign-based fragrance company.
This was learned from Second District Representative Leopoldo Bataoil who introduced the livelihood project in the district.
The seedlings are already being sourced from Tarlac province while the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has already identified some 200 hectares in Bugallon, Aguilar and Mangatarem towns for the ilang-ilang plantation under the National Greening Program (NGP).
A fragrance company based in the Philippines, Chemworld Fragrance Factory, has expressed its intention to buy the ilang-ilang oil extract produced in Pangasinan.
These project areas are in Barangay Hacienda in Bugallon; Sitio Mapita, Brgy. Laoag in Aguilar, and in Brgy. Quetegan, Mangatarem.
Initially, the people’s organization in Bugallon will receive P3-million-worth of assistance for the planting of the trees. He expects similar assistance will be extended to the organizations in Aguilar and Mangatarem.
Chemworld’s co-owner Fred Reyes disclosed, outside of his company, a big demand for ilang-ilang oil exists in and outside the country.
Bataoil said other towns and the private sector may also opt to plant ilang-ilang on their own to supply fragrant oil to Chemworld provided that they conform with specifications for planting, i.e., regular pruning and in the use of all organic fertilizer.
Ilang-ilang, on average, takes five years to bear flowers and has at least 25 years life expectancy.
The plant originated in the Philippines, but the biggest ilang-ilang producer in the world today is the Comoros Island. (Johanne Macob)
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