|
Wednesday, August 31, 2005
Firm eyes 'coconet' plant in Sarangani
KORONADAL CITY -- A group of Chinese and Taiwanese investors are planning to put up a manufacturing plant in Sarangani Province for the massive production of coconut geotextile or coconet.
Edmund Castañeda, Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA)-Region 12 director, said the investors are now preparing the ground works and the technology for the proposed project, which is to be established in the coastal town of Glan.
"Right now, they're still perfecting the technology but they have initially made startup investments through the help of their local counterparts," Castañeda said.
Castañeda said geotextile, which is reportedly gaining popularity in the huge Chinese market, is primarily made of coconut fiber that is twined to produce ropes and nets.
A PCA report cited that the product could be used as a surrogate tree root by holding loose soil together and could help prevent landslides.
The Chinese market alone reportedly needs around 1 billion kilos of coco fiber, coco peat and other high-end value coconut products a year.
The country may export around P20 billion worth of geotextiles to China stop soil erosion there.
The Philippines' geotextile was earlier chosen as a finalist in the World Challenge sponsored by Newsweek magazine and the British Broadcasting Corp. with the Shell Corp.
The award is given to projects that show enterprise and innovation in the grassroots level.
Castañeda said the investors chose Sarangani as the primary project site due to the abundance of coconut fiber from the area's seven municipalities and nearby South Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat provinces.
Sarangani currently accounts for 43 percent of Region 12 or Soccsksargen's coconut area, which was estimated at 174,000 hectares and planted with over 12 million hills.
But he said the group has also signified to open up another production facility somewhere in South Cotabato later on.
"This will complement our ongoing expansion and investment program for coconut in the region. We are initially targeting to open up at least 15,000 hectares of new coconut areas before the year ends," Castañeda said.
Castañeda said they are targeting to open up 2,953 hectares of new coconut areas in Cotabato province, 2,180 hectares in Sarangani, 2,085 hectares in Sultan Kudarat and 1,855 in South Cotabato. (Allen V. Estabillo)
(August 29, 2005 issue)
Write letter to the editor. Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board. Click here. |
|
[return to top]
[home]
[network page]
|
LOCAL NEWS
BUSINESS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFESTYLE
FEATURE
|
