A broad-winged poverty reduction and environmental protection project - poised to generate 24,000 jobs in the province - officially took off with the ceremonial sowing at the first planting site in barangay Canguha, Calape town with the very first jatropha seedling in the history of Bohol’s Jatropha Propagation Project (JPP).
Braving a heavy downpour in the first morning of July, Governor Erico Aumentado’s Chief of Staff and JPP project director Antonieto Pernia, and officials of Petrogreen Commodity Holdings Inc. made history with community organizers and field program officers of the Bohol Poverty Reduction and Management Office (BPRMO) in launching Bohol’s biggest poverty reduction program and uptrend environmental protection project.
Pernia, himself, sowed the very first seedling on the site of Canguha Multi-Purpose Cooperative - the chosen planters in the project’s first phase - leading other sites in 15 municipalities that comprise the first batch of jatropha growers, covering a total of 1,000 hectares of planting areas.
The symbolic sowing of the project’s first seedling signaled the start of massive planting on the sites of coop-growers in the first 15 towns, who have finished their land preparation.
Petrogreen was represented by its admin officer, Maricor Lawas and its officer-in-charge for operations, Barangay Captain Alfredo Datahan of Bayong, Guindulman.
In full force, officers and members of Canguha Multi-Purpose Coop gathered around to take part in the activity.
The heavy downpour prevented environment officials and staff of Bohol Environment Management Office (BEMO) from making it to the venue.
Targeting 12,000 hectares of planting areas, JPP will open employment opportunities to 24,000 Boholanos, aside from helping reforest the denuded and idle lands.
The job opportunities that the project offers are expected to double during harvest season.
The Jatropha variety planted in Bohol will start bearing fruits upon reaching eight months old up to its 50th year.
The provincial government has forged partnership with the Philippine National Oil Corporation and Petrogreen Oil Commodity Holdings, Inc. for the establishment of the project.
Under a joint venture agreement, Petrogreen and PNOC will put up a P25-million expeller-extractor plant to process the seeds of the Jatropha fruits.
And, to protect the provincial government’s investment, the Capitol will be entitled to one seat in the Board of Directors in Petrogreen, while PNOC provides the technical and marketing assistance. (Angeline Valencia/PGMA)
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