PNOC-AFC chair graces Jathropa seminar in Basey, Samar

By Philippine Information Agency (PIA 8)
March 5, 2008

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte  –  PNOC Alternative Fuels Corporation Chairman, Dr. Renato S. Velasco is expected to grace the Jathropa Seminar scheduled on March 8, 2008 at Basey, Samar.

Chairman Velasco, who used to be the director general of the Philippine Information Agency,  will deliver an inspiring message concerning the production and technology of Jathropha biodiesel in Basey. His visit will also be highlighted with the inauguration of the second barangay Tuba-Tuba Nursery and a brief visit to the first barangay Tuba-Tuba Nursery.

Together with Chairman Velasco, Dr. Roberto Vicos, an agriculturist and professor at the University of the Philippines is also expected to make a visual presentation on jathropa.

The Seminar will start at 9:00 o’clock in the morning with Basey Mayor Wilfredo O. Estorninos will welcome the guests and the participants. Baktas President Teodorico D. Porbus will give an update on the jathropa production in Basey.

Also expected to deliver their inspirational messages are Samar Governor Milagrosa T. Tan, Representative Sharee Ann Tan of the Second District of Samar and Honorable Wilfredo Estorninos.

The guests will also inaugurate the second Barangay Jathropa Nursery in Barangay Sawa and will take a side trip to the First Barangay Jathropa Nursery in Barangay Old San Agustin.

The Jathropa Seminar coincides with the First General Assembly of the Baktas Kabub’wason Rural Workers Association. These are composed of farmers who have started to plant jathropa tree and because of this similarity, they decided to group into an association.

The Seminar Lectures on Jathopa will continue in the afternoon of March 8, Municipal Agrarian Reform Officer Chito dela Torre of Basey, informed.

Republic Act 9637 or the Philippine Biofuels Act of 2006 calls for a mandatory mixing of 1% of biodiesel in diesel and 5% ethanol in gasoline for the first 4 years. Hence on, this will be increased to 2% biodiesel and 10% for ethanol.

Aside from coconut, jathropa has high potential as source of biofuel, so Region 8 will take advantage of this potentials which are available in the Region.