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Ilang-ilang plantation in 2 Pangasinan towns
Sunday, March 08, 2015 12:00 AM Views : 4149Philippines News AgencyLingayen, Pangasinan – Two towns in Pangasinan are being eyed to become ilang-ilang (Cananga odorata) commercial plantation sites where an oil extraction facility will also be built.
In an interview with second district Rep. Leopoldo Bataoil, he said a people's organization in Bugallon town may be a possible partner for the project.
He said the people's organization already signed a memorandum of agreement with the Department of Environment of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
"In line with the National Greening Program, the DENR will provide funds to the organization for the purpose of planting trees, and then we can have a private-public partnership (for the ilang-ilang project)," Bataoil said.
He said in December, his high school classmate Fred Reyes of Chemworld Fragrance Factory visited Sitio Mapita, Barangay Laoag in Aguilar, the other identified ilang-ilang plantation site.
The sitio is home to more or less 800 tribal people from three tribes – Ibaloi, Kankana-ey and Bag-o.
Reyes said there is a big demand for ilang-ilang oil in and outside the country.
If the project is realized, Pangasinan will produce ilang-ilang oil for fragrance manufacturing companies in the Philippines and abroad, like France.
Reyes stressed that the community will spearhead the plantation and extraction, and their company will only assist in terms of technology and other resources.
Bataoil has met up with the DENR for the proposal in connection with the establishment of the sustainable livelihood program by means of ilang-ilang plantation.
He also said the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) will be tapped to provide small water impounding systems since the "very hot" climate, according to the DENR, may decrease the ilang-ilang's survival rate.
Source: http://www.mb.com.ph/ilang-ilang-plantation-in-2-pangasinan-towns/