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Philippines president wants ancestral domain planted to jatropha
Added 271 days ago - President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is pushing for the conversion of the 74,000 hectares of newly-titled ancestral lands of the B’laan and Tagakaolo in Malungon town in Sarangani province as a major production area for jatropha, which is locally known as tuba-tuba.
In a radio interview in Kalsangi in Polomolok, South Cotabato Thursday night, the President cited that Malungon’s rugged farmlands had been identified as among the best suitable areas in Southwestern Mindanao (Region 12) for the development of jathropha plantations.
She said biodiesel producer Eco-Global Bio-Oils Inc., which has partnered with South Korean firm Eco Solutions Co. Ltd. for the development of a US$175-million biodiesel plant in South Cotabato, has been planning to expand its jatropha plantations in Malungon area.
“That’s why we really pushed to speed up the processing of the CADTs (certificate of ancestral domain titles) of our B’laan and Tagakaolo tribal communities in Malungon. We want them to be a part of these positive developments,” she said.
On Thursday, the President awarded the CADTs of the B’laan and Tagakaolo tribes in Malungon, Sarangani, covering an area of 74,804 hectares, in a simple ceremony held at a swimming resort in Polomolok town.
The newly titled ancestral lands will benefit 52,110 B’laan and Tagakaolo tribal residents in the area.
In a briefing, Eco-Global officials confirmed to the President the company’s plans to pour in more investments as it pushes for the expansion of additional jatropha production areas in Sarangani province and in General Santos City.
The company has already planted some 11,000 hectares of jatropha in the area and is planning to expand its initial target of 100,000 hectares to 200,000 in the next two years.
Expanding the jatropha plantations will complement the company’s plans to build a bio-diesel plant in the area within the next eight years.
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