Sunday, October 22, 2006
P55-M earmarked for rubber dev't
THE government is investing some P55 million this year to jumpstart the development of new rubber plantations in the country.
South Cotabato chief agriculturist Reynaldo Legaste said the investment is part of the government's commitment to fast track the expansion of rubber plantations in 11 priority provinces, which includes South Cotabato.
"The province will initially get P5 million as kick off fund for the program," he said.
The province, which has nine of its 10 municipalities identified as suitable for rubber plantation, is among the focal areas tapped by the National Government for its 10-year National Rubber Development Program (NRDP).
The NRDP, a brainchild of Cotabato Governor Emmanuel Piñol, is aimed at rehabilitating the country's rubber industry.
The other priority provinces are Antique, Benguet, Bukidnon, Isabela, Maguindanao, Negros Occidental, Occidental Mindoro, Palawan, Sarangani and Zamboanga Sibugay.
The NRDP, which was launched in Kidapawan City in late August, was formulated to further build up the country's position as one of the top four players in the world natural rubber industry.
According to the Department of Agriculture's Bureau of Agricultural Research, at least 81,925 hectares are currently planted with rubber in the country.
The top rubber planters are Zamboanga Sibugay, Cotabato and Basilan.
Piñol, who was tapped as the program's focal person, earlier said the country needs to refocus its programs for the rubber industry so it would not left behind by other rubber-producing countries such as Thailand, Vietnam, India, and Indonesia.
He said the program is going to plant 500 million rubber trees nationwide during the next decade. (Allen V. Estabillo)
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(October 16, 2006 issue)
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