MICHAEL MEDINA
Editor in chief
OZAMIZ CITY--Misamis Occidental sets into motion a multi-million peso investment in Alternative Fuels Program (AFP) through massive Jathropha production, to start with Ozamiz City as its pilot planting farm.
The Energy Independence Agenda outlines the roadmap of implementing the AFP, one of the five key components of the government’s lead to the country’s attainment of 60 percent energy self-sufficiency by 2010.
In this case, the country set up the Coco-Biodiesel Program (CBP) and urged farmers to use coconut as feedstocks for biodiesel, or Coco-Methyl Ester (CME).
CME is produced from the transesterification of coconut oil, using methyl alcohol in the presence of a catalyst. This process forces out the unwanted components (such as glycerine) in the oil, which could cause the gumming and clogging of fuel systems and eventually lead to engine failure in the long term.
This renewable and biodegradeable fuel extracted from coconut, has natural hydrocarbon
with little sulfur content, and can be used in diesel engines without any need for engine modification.
Recently, the government is eyeing Jathropha as another potential alternative fuel source. There are other sources also like corn, soybeans, cassava and sugarcane.
Alternative fuels are fuels that are not composed substantially of petroleum. Samples are methanol, denatured ethanol, and other alcohols blended with gasoline or diesel.
Other forms of alternative fuels are natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas, hydrogen, and coal-derived liquid fuels—as these are derived from biological materials and electricity.
The use of alternative fuels is embodied in RA 9367, also known as the “Biofuels Act of 2006,” which will promote the use of alternative transport fuels consistent with the Declaration on East Asian Energy Security ratified by the 16 heads of state of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
The Biofuels Act of 2006 seeks to reduce dependence on imported fuels with due regard to the protection of public health, the environment and natural ecosystems consistent with the country’s sustainable economic growth that would expand opportunities for livelihood.
The Act mandates the use of biofuels as a measure to develop and utilize indigenous renewable and sustainably-sourced clean energy sources to reduce dependence on imported oil.
For Jathropha Curcas, this is a genus of approximately 175 succulents, shrubs and trees, also known by locals as Tuba-tuba, used to produce the non-edible Jatropha oil, for making candles and soap.
Jathropa trees produce 1600 liters of oil per hectare.
Its usefulness as a a potential source of alternative fuel has nudged Councilor and lawyer Ma. Constancia Lim to seek partnership with the Philippine National Oil Co.-Alternative Fuels Corporation (PNOC-AFC), through the city government, to ink a memorandum of agreement (MOA) for the said project.
The MOA was signed by and between Rep. Herminia Ramiro, in behalf of the province, PNOC-AFC chair Renato Velasco and Peter Anthony Abaya, PNOC-AFC president and CEO.
Witnessing the MOA signing are board member Tito Decina, city officials, media personalities and guests.
The MOA included a provision of developing and growing Jathropha nurseries in the selected land farms identified by the city government for its propagation.
PNOC, it was learned, is spearheading a refinery project that would process jathropha into biodiesel. But this will be realized if the company would be able to develop 118,000 hectares of land of jathropha, to produce the needed 250,000 tons of biodiesel a year.
The PNOC-AFC, on the other hand, has been allocated a budget for the funding of jathropha mega nurseries, as investment share in the planned biodiesel refinery, and for research and development activities.
Jathropha, according to Abaya, will thrive in marginal lands in the right climate area, the likes of Ozamiz’s hinterland areas.
To date, the local government has identified portion areas of its hinterland barangays in Capucao, Gala and Kinuman as possible areas for the planting of jathropha.
Velasco, in his message during the ceremonial signing, said: “Mindanao has been mentioned and cited by President Gloria Arroyo to be the base of the biofuels program, primarily on Jathropha.”
“We have talked to a number of stakeholders and we are pleased to inform you that the MOA that we signed today is the first in Mindanao. We are very hopeful that after this MOA, there will be other mOA’s in the different parts of Mindanao.”
“It took the visionary leadership of Ramiro and the persistence and persuasive prowess of Lim for us to forge this agreement and being the first, we put a lot of premium to this kind of partnership and we’re looking forward for the successful launching,” he added.
Lim, in her response, said: “We would like to thank s PNOC for spearheading the promotion of the Biofuels Act. We, the second district of Misamis Occidental would like to tell PNOC-AFC that we are fortunate enough for having been considered as [their] partner in this endeavor.”
Decena, for his part, told MINDANAO MONITOR in an interview that the provincial government will study the success of the pilot project in Ozamiz then they will campaign for its massive propagation in the whole province.
It can be recalled that Gov. Loreto Leo Ocampos, in August 2007, has ordered the Misamis Occidental Enterprise Research Development and Research Center (MOEDRC) in Pines, Oroquieta City to engage in mass production of jathropha seedlings in preparation for his plan to make the province a leading supplier of jathropha.
For the record, a study commissioned by DOST in March 2006 show two million hectares around the country as potential areas for jathropha plantation.
The study results added that if farmers will be encouraged to plant even in field boundaries or hedges and to practice intercropping, a total of 5 million hectares can be utilized for the jatropha plant.
With 1.1 million hectares dedicated to jatropha, 5.5 million metric tons (MMT) of biodiesel feedstock can be produced. Five million hectares can yield up to 25 MMT of biodiesel feedstock.
At present, a total of 360 hectares of land are planted with Jatropha in the country, found in General Santos, Camarines Sur, Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija, Dacong Cogon, Negros Occidental and in Quezon Province.
Preparatory phase of other PNOC jathropha field trials are underway in its geothermal project sites in Leyte, Negros Oriental, Sorsogon and Kidapawan, North Cotabato are currently on-going for the agronomic requirements and site conditions of jathropha.
Meanwhile, an Alternative Fuel Investment Program (AFIP) was recently launched in Linamon, Lanao del Norte by Gov. Mohamad Khalid Dimaporo as a requirement of Metro Iligan Regional Infrastructure Development Project (MIRIDP) to be established in the province.
Board member Val Zamora told this paper that the project costs P1-billion, supposedly to expire last February but the funding was not utilized, owing to the peace and order problem in the province then, which hampered its implementation.
“The issue was now resolved by governor Dimaporo and a request for extension was approved up to June 7, 2010, provided that the AFIP should be implemented in lieu of the Hydro powerproject,” Zamora said.
Dimaporo has earlier said he plans to put up an alternative fuel processing plant that will process coco and jathropha diesels.
At present, the governor is looking for a 30,000 hectares of land for the processing plant.
As to the P1.5 billion cost hydroelectric power plant in Brgy Pagayawan, it is predicted to produce 12 megawatts, enough to supply the entire province.
“The province only needs 10 megawatts, the average load of the Lanao Electric Cooperative (Laneco). With its realization, the province will then have lower rates in return for their energy consumption,” Zamora added. WITH REPORTS FROM MAR SABATE