Korean firm to plant ‘tuba-tuba’ in Visayas

A total of 100,000 hectares of land in the Visayas will be planted with Jathropa or “tuba-tuba” seedlings to support the harnessing and production of biodiesel in the country.

Korea Farms Innovative Bio-Energy, Kofil Forest Resources Development Corporation, and Centennial Force Foundation, Inc. yesterday signed a memorandum of agreement initiating the planting of “tuba-tuba” in the cities and municipalities of northern Cebu, as well as in Ginobaan, Negros Oriental and the cities of Kabangkalan and Sipalay, and town of Candoni in Negros Occidental.

Bo Keun Choi, president of Korea Farms, assured that after this large scale planting of “tuba-tuba”, the mass production of biodiesel will push through.

Jathropa curcas, a non-edible shrub with an economic life of up to 50 years, is believed to be a good source of biofuel which could be a potential substitute for diesel, he said.

Also, Korea Farms cited that they are pushing for “tuba-tuba” as a biofuel alternative to help combat high prices of crude oil and global warming.

The Korean firm has already tapped other government agencies such as the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the Department of Agrarian Reform, and the Department of Tourism, the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines as partners in this project. — Ramil V. Ayuman/MEEV