GREETINGS:
We are happy to inform you that the 8th NATIONAL PALM OIL CONGRESS will be held on April 18-19, 2013, at Xavier Sports and Country Club, Xavier Estates, Masterson Ave., Cagayan De Oro City. This is organized by the PPDCI, and co-sponsored by the Local Government of Cagayan de Oro, ABERDI, API Group of Companies, KIDI, FPPI, LBP, DA and other Major Industry Players and Stakeholders, with the support of DTI, RBOI, DTI-ARMM, PCA–PODO, DOT, DLR, DENR and other National and Local Government Units.
Updates on the Philippine palm oil industry, development initiatives, technological advances, banking support, local and international trends and prospects among others will be discussed during the congress.
As Stakeholders and Friends in the palm oil industry, may we invite you to join and participate to this important occasion. A registration fee will be collected to cover two (2) meals, three (3) snacks, souvenir program, congress kit and handouts. Early bird Registration is until March 18, 2013.
Member:
Early Bird: Php 1,200.00
On-Site : Php 1,500.00
Non-Member:
Early Bird: Php 1,500.00
On-Site: Php 1,800.00
We look forward to your favorable support to this undertaking. For details, please email us at ppdci@yahoo.com.ph or contact the Secretariat: Ms. Branette Dayag at telefax +63642006542 or CP +639295145421, Ms Mary Shiela C. Mercurio at landline number +63888588580, or +639173118230.
ROBERTINO E. PIZARRO
President – PPDCI
COPING WITH THE PRICE FLUCTUATION OF PALM OIL AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Pablito P. Pamplona, Ph.D.
Member, Board of Director, PPDCI
Paper presented during the Annual General Assembly of the Philippine Palmoil Development Council, Inc. (PPDCI), Waterfront Hotel, February 21, 2013.
THE OIL PALM INDUSTRY
(A Road to Poverty Reduction)
Rolando T. Dy
There is a potential controversy looming that could discourage domestic and foreign investments. If not nipped in the bud, it will have an impact on poverty reduction, particularly in Mindanao.
In late January 2013, a Malaysian industry group expressed interest in investing US$575 million to develop some 66,000 hectares of land for oil palm plantations. This was reported by Mindanao Development Authority Chair Lualhati Antonino. One area cited by the media was Liguasan Marsh reportedly as part of peace dividends. Various Mindanao-based civil society organizations (CSOs) immediately opposed the investments.
The Liguasan Marsh is one of the largest wetlands in the country. It is composed of three marshes — Liguasan proper, Libungan and Ebpanan — and is an important wetland habitat of water bird species. Most are under water during rainy season. About 140,000 hectares dry out during dry season and are cultivated. The main threat in the past has been the conversion of marshes to rice paddies and other agricultural land. A fisheries project will involve the conversion of large areas into aquaculture ponds and fish pens. The marsh is settled by over 100,000 Maguindanaon families who are dependent on fishing when water levels are high and agriculture when the water is low. (Incidentally, my birthplace Pigcawayan, Cotabato is located in the northern boundary of the marsh).
The CSOs noted that oil palm plantations have been named as a main driver of deforestation in Indonesia. Greenpeace claims that clearing and burning forests for plantations are a major cause of air pollution in Southeast Asia. Oil palm planters are also being accused of causing the loss of habitat for Orangutan and Sumatran Tiger. One said that messing up with nature can lead to destructive typhoons like Pablo and Sendong. International media support Greenpeace claims.
But Mindanao is not Indonesia.
There is mass rural poverty in the region, despite great agro-climatic potentials for oil palm. According to official statistics, eight out of the 15 poorest provinces are in Mindanao, among them Zamboanga del Norte 52.9 percent (the highest), Agusan del Sur 51.2 percent, and Maguindanao 44.6 percent. Meanwhile, Caraga, ARMM and Zamboanga Peninsula families have the highest poverty rates among all regions at almost twice the national average. Read the rest of this entry »
The Philippine Palm Oil Development Council Inc., co-sponsored by the Department of Agriculture – CARAGA holds the Palm Oil Investment Forum in CARAGA at Almont Inland Resort, J.C. Aquino Avenue, Butuan City, last July 12, 2012. The forum was successfully attended by sponsors, 135 paying participants and 14 newly members of the council. This Palm Oil Investment Forum may serve as the venue for sharing among various stakeholders the valuable experience and opportunities, which could help the growth of the Palm Oil Industry. This investment Forum is made more unique because, of the discussion on the techniques being used in the Oil Palm farming. The meeting provided insights on the role of various stakeholders, Non-Government Organization (NGOs) and Government Agencies which include Local Government Units (LGUs) on how to use OPF as an effective tool in helping to overcome rural poverty in the Philippines. Read the rest of this entry »
Pablito P. Pamplona, Ph.D.
- I. INTRODUCTION
The author had a very busy schedule that week, and on the day of the start of the training, June 18, 2012, he had an important meeting with a VIP. He was tasked by the Member of the Board of Directors of the Philippines Palmoil Development Council, Inc, to prepare a position paper and discuss to a congressman the benefits of a congressional support for oil palm expansion in Mindanao as a tool to overcome widespread rural poverty. However when Vice-Chairman Gadzali Jaafar of MILF called him up through his cellphone four days before the training to form a group that will conduct a three-day training on oil palm production technology, it was something that the author didn’t refuse. He believes it is a privilege and opportunity to help the brother Muslims in the depressed communities. Read the rest of this entry »
The figure below shows the comparative area of oil palm plantations among the four member countries of the ASEAN located within 10o North and South of the equator which are highly suitable for oil palm farming. The government of Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand fully supported the expansion of the palm oil plantations resulting to significant reduction in poverty, and high export generation. In contrast the Philippines government neglected the palm oil industry resulting to huge palm oil importation to meet domestic needs, now at P6.68 billion annually.
The continued government neglect in supporting the palm oil industry to expand to at least 144,000 ha by the year 2017 would mean that by 2022 the country shall import, base on import trends reported by the Malaysian Palm Oil Council (MPOC), 576,596 MT of palm oil valued at US$ 634.26 million or P27.26 billion. It shall also forfeit in favor of the Malaysians Filipinos (through import) the opportunity of giving high farm income to 60,000 would-be oil palm farmers and direct employment of 288,000 rural workers. (Please click the link below for further reading)