COTABATO CITY - The proposed pioneering in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) of a biomass production has sparked enthusiasm among officials and residents at the regional economic zone in Polloc, Parang, Maguindanao where the project is mulled to be set in place.
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"The finalization of the proposal is great news for us. We are very excited to see the project jumping off soonest in our midst to spur investments in the regional economic zone," Polloc Freeport Administrator Moharrin Mohammad told the Manila Bulletin Friday.
Mohammad was referring to the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on the proposed biomass production between ARMM acting Gov. Ansaruddin A. Adiong, Secura International Corporation (SIC) president Danilo Manayaga, and the Energy Vision Japan Co. (EVJC) president Hans Henning Judek in Makati City on Tuesday.
The MoU provides for the conduct of a feasibility study for the introduction of the biomass production technology, a first of its kind in the Philippines, for the ARMM to produce its own diesel supply out of waste and grass that abound in the 20-year-old region, ARMM Executive Secretary Naguib Sinarimbo said.
It was learned that the gathering of plant feeds, which include waste and talahib - locally described as bad grass and abounding vast tracts of lands in the ARMM areas - could generate employment or additional source of income for the thousands of residents in the five-province and one-city region.
SIC and EVJC officials proposed on April 6 the conduct of feasibility study, securing of feedstock biomass resources and implementation of collection and transport system for multiple hydrocarbon catalytic plants capable of converting biomass to diesel, Sinarimbo said.
He said the plants are proposed for installation at the newly opened Polloc Freeport in Parang, which forms part of the ARMM's regional economic zone, to propel the Adiong administration's campaign for local energy production, enhance employment generation and intensify socio-economic activities.
