Iturralde cites Ecozone-Bionas MOA on jatropha
Councilor Cesar Iturralde has cited the benefits that can be achieved by local residents from the newly-forged memorandum of agreement between the Zamboanga City Special Economic Zone and Freeport Authority and a Malaysian company formalizing the establishment of a jatropha biofuel and biodisel press mill and refinery in San Ramon.
Iturralde, who is the City Council representative in the Ecozone Board said the partnership between the Ecozone and the Biofuel Bionas SDN BHD (BBSB) will bring about employment and alternative agricultural activity for farmers in the city.
The setting up of the press mill and refinery, he said will help improve the plight of local farmers and consequently bring about economic advancement in Zamboanga. The councilor was instrumental in convincing the group to set up its refinery at the ecozone in San Ramon.
According to Iturralde, an initial investment of P800 million is expected to be poured in to the city 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.
“Priority will be given to the people in Zamboanga City for job employment”, the alderman, who was one of the witnesses in the signing of the MOA at the Mall of Asia in Manila last July 26, said.
Iturralde hoped that local farmers will take advantage of the opportunity, as the government undertakes measures to help alleviate the plight of every sector in the city.
Bionas has contracted with MJSULCAZAM Philippine Corporation for the implementation of its project here. 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 the world.
Based on studies, jathropa is recognized as best alternative to crude palm oil in the production of biodiesel.
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 Ecozone 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 RM 1million. (Sheila Covarrubias)