Tuesday, August 4, 2009
By Bong Garcia
ZAMBOANGA City Special Economic Zone and Freeport Authority (Zamboeconzone) and a Malaysian firm have forged a memorandum of agreement (MOA) that would benefit local residents in the city.
The MOA formalizes the establishment of a jatropha bio-fuel and bio-diesel press mill and refinery in Zamboanga City, benefiting the residents especially the farmers.
Councilor Cesar Iturralde, City Council representative in the Zamboecozone board, said the partnership between the Zamboecozone and the Biofuel Bionas SDN BHD (BBSB) will bring about employment and alternative agricultural activity for farmers in the city.
Iturralde said the setting up of the press mill and refinery will help improve the plight of local farmers and consequently bring about economic advancement in Zamboanga City.
He added that an initial investment of P800 million is expected to be poured, in which will include the setting up of a crude jatropha oil press mill in phase I and the setting up of a refinery in phase II inside Zamboecozone in San Ramon.
"Priority will be given to the people in Zamboanga City for job employment," said Iturralde, who was one of the witnesses in the signing of the MOA at the Mall of Asia in Manila last July 26.
Iturralde hoped the local farmers will take advantage of the opportunity as the government undertakes measures to help alleviate the plight of every sector in Zamboanga City.
Bionas has contracted with MJSulcazam Philippine Corporation for the implementation of its project in the city.
The refinery will be the facility where jathropa seeds will be processed and the end products of which will be shipped for sale not only to other parts of the country but also to other parts of the world.
Based on studies, jathropa is recognized as best alternative to crude palm oil in the production of bio-diesel.
The MOA was signed by executive chairman Mohd Safi'e Jaffri and chief executive officer Zurina Amnan and Zamboecozone chairperson Georgina Yu.
Aside from Iturralde, other officials present during the signing ceremonies were Ferdinand Mahusay representing the Office of the President and Zamboecozone officials Meinrad Yanga and other representatives from Bionas Malaysia.
Bionas is a private company owned by the Bionas Agropolitan Technology Corridor with an authorized share capital of one million ringgits.
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