Reduction of tariff on oil is, so far, the best option we can undertake in a calibrated scale to cushion the impact of the spiraling oil prices in the world market without prejudicing economic growth or forgoing vital pro-poor programs, President Gloria Macapagal said yesterday in Bacolod City.

Arroyo, who spoke at the Vice Mayors League of the Philippines national conference, also called on the local executives to help do what they can in their councils to hold down the upward pressure of oil prices.

She also asked them to help in promoting the use of oil substitutes like ethanol and coco diesel.

Let us all plant jatropha together in our towns and cities, she also urged, adding that it is a perfect and 100 percent substitute fuel of the future that will open up new lands for agri-business. Arroyo invited town and city councils to participate in the jatropha, locally known as casla, program by allocating counterpart funds.

"It is important for us to be united against all of these efforts against political instability, especially at a time when the economic stability of the world is vulnerable to oil prices," she said.

In Negros Occidental the Dacongcogon Producers Cooperative Marketing Association and the Negros Occidental provincial government have already began jatropha nurseries, Presidential Adviser for Western Visayas Rafael Coscolluela said.

Coscolluela, who has been advocating the planting of jatropha since last year, said the Dacongcogon group with a P1 million fund from PNOC has began a 5-hectare nursery.

The cooperative is also set to receive 60,000 jatropha seedlings that could cover 50 has., he said.

They are eyeing the Bararangay Pinggot, Ilog, area for the jatropha plantation but this will need coordination with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, he said.

Coscolluela also said that Gov. Joseph Marañon has also already began a jatropha nursery at the Panaad Park in Barangay Mansilingan, Bacolod City.

Arroyo said she has instructed the Philippine National Oil Corp. Petrochecmical Corp to be converted into the PNOC Biofuel Corp. that must allocate P500 million to promote the cultivation of jatropha, whose seeds can be a perfect substitute for diesel fuel.

She also cited the promotion of ethanol production from sugarcane in Negros Occidental.*CPG

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