The Department of Environment and Natural Resources in Ilocos Norte since last year had started site assessments in Barangay Caunayan in Pagudpud and found it suitable for coconut plantation. Promising huge livelihood and income opportunities for Ilocanos, Juan de los Reyes Jr., provincial environment and natural resources officer, said officials are itching for the project to take off.
The project is also environment-friendly as it will help in reducing greenhouse effect.
A joint Philippine BioEnergy Northern Luzon Inc. (BENLINC) and the Japan-based partner Pacific Bio-Fields Corp. headed by its president Moriaki Hayashida, the coco plantation will cover up to 600,000 hectares of public and non-disposable lands in Pagudpud and elsewhere in Northern Luzon. Japanese investors are pouring in P3.5 billion for the coconut plantation.
Once processed, the coconut is converted into a coconut methyl ester, an essential component for the production of bio-diesel. The output will then be shipped to Japan to meet the country's demand for biofuel. "This project is certified as viable. We are merely waiting for the development plan (from Japanese investors)," De los Reyes of the environment office in Ilocos Norte said.
Groundworks for the coco plantation began during the last quarter of 2008. Initially, the Japanese wanted a large tract of land whose title is clean that would become the subject of a lease agreement with the Philippine government. They accordingly made an actual survey of the land parcels in Caunayan, Pagudpud and wanted a barren area where it would not be necessary to cut trees. The public lands will be covered by a special land use agreement with tenure rights of up to 50 years.
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