People's Recovery, Empowerment and
Development Assistance Foundation, Inc.

SORSOGON CITY-Good news for all coconut farmers.

China has committed to import geotextile, a product derived from the coconut husk, from the Philippines as part of the agreement between the two countries for the implementation of the Nucleus Farm Development Project (NFDP).

This was disclosed by Philippine Coconut Authority administrator Danilo Coronacion here recently based on a taped record of his meeting with PCA and Department of Agrarian Reform officials in the Bicol region.

The NFDP is a joint effort of the DAR and the PCA.

Coronacion said China made an initial order of geotextile measuring about six million square meters to be used to control erosion in Beijing as part of its preparation for the 2008 Olympics.

Erosion affects almost 240,000 hectares of land in China yearly, according to the PCA Official.

He said the Phfllppin6s has 3.1 million hectares of coconut land t at produces 12.5 billion coconuts yearly, from where one million metric tons of coconut husks can be used to produce geotextile.

The NFDP is estimated to cost $100 million.

Some $40 million will be allocated for farm inputs to enhance productivity of coconut trees in identified areas covering some 400,000 hectares; $40 for machinery and equipment for the establishment of activated carbon and coco processing facilities; $l5 million for development of hybrid seeds for intercropping and $5 million will finance the technical aspect of the project such as study, design, training and support services

Areas from the provinces of Quezon to Sorsogon-dubbed the Quezon-Sorsogon Grid-were declared priority areas due to their strategic location, sufficient infrastructure, accessibility of transportation and proximity to Manila.

Other prority are the Samar-Leyte Grid, Zamboanga-Dipolog Grid, Davao-Sarangani Grid.

In Sorsogon, 23 barangays in five municipalities were delared NFDP pilot areas-San Isidro, San Pascual, San Ramon, San Roque and San Vicente in Bacon district, Sorsogon City; Calomagon, Inararan, Nasuje, Antipolo and Namo in Bulan; Bolo, Hidhid and Pawa in Matnog; Beriran, Carriedo, Cabiguhan, Jupi, Dita and Payawin in Gubat; Del Rosario, Sogoy, Inang and Ginablan in Pilar.

Emir Emano Gamis, Southern Luzon Bureau

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