Forest lands in Western P’sinan eyed for jathropa
SOME 50,000 hectares of forest lands in the western part of the province are being considered for planting jathropa in support of the government’s program for bio-diesel production.
The Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) in Alaminos City has already identified areas in the towns of Infanta and Mabini as possible sites while some parts of Bolinao, Agno and Dasol are also being considered.
“Practically, lahat ng munisipyo mayroong forest lands, it is a series of mountain ranges up to Mangatarem,” CENRO chief Celso Salazar said in an interview with The PUNCH.
The open areas that were pinpointed ideal for jathropa plantation include those in barangay Pita in Infanta and in barangay Villacorta in Mabini.
Salazar said a Filipino businessman with a counterpart from Australia, among several other investors, recently arrived in the province to look into prospective sites for a jathropa plantation.
A map of the proposed areas has been forwarded to the regional office of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Philippine Forest Corporation.
He also stressed that the proposed jathropa plantation will not be competing for agricultural areas to the detriment of traditional crops.
The Pangasinan State University (PSU) in Infanta haa set up a five-hectare demo farm for jathropa.
3 YEARS
According to DENR Regional Director Constancio Arciaga, a feasibility study prepared by the Philippine Forest Corporation indicates that jathropa starts bearing fruit on its third year.
The study also indicates that investment recovery on the jathropa business could be as short as three to four years.
“With the help of the present leadership, we could hasten the establishment of jathropa plantation in western Pangasinan and there are prospective investors who will go into the project,” Arciaga said.
Arciaga said jathropa development is being accelerated not only in Pangasinan but in the whole region to help in production of bio-fuel.—CSR
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