Charlie Fabre, Community Environment and Natural Resources Officer of Negros Oriental, said recently that the Meralco Foundation is interested in establishing a 15,000 to 20,000-hectare plantation of jatropha, whose fruit produces oil convertible into bio-diesel, in the province.

Fabre said there are now about 500 hectares of land planted to jatropha in the towns of Siaton, Dauin, Amlan, Sibulan and Valencia and in Bayawan City.

Bayawan took the lead in the venture, and began last year.

Fabre said the Philippine National Oil Company-Energy Development Corporation, has also put up a jatropha plantation as an experiment. There are also individuals who have planted jatropha, he added.

He said this development has given employment to many people who are hired to prepare planting materials, actual planting, and raising the plant. Farmers are also encouraged to plant jatropha because the PNOC is willing to buy their produce, he added.*RA

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