Isabela residents rally behind ethanol plant

SAN MARIANO, Isabela -- Thousands of villagers, farmers and local officials recently gathered here to call for creation of a zone for peace in line with their clamor to promote peace in the area.

The municipal government initiated the gathering to highlight the need for peace. This is also their way of showing their support for the bio-ethanol project and the sugarcane plantation in the area.

Multinational firm Green Future Innovations Inc. (GFII) is the company behind the bio-ethanol plant that has jumpstarted social and economic development in the province and adjacent areas.

The plant will produce ethanol from an 11,000-hectare sugarcane plantation in and around San Mariano’s 30-kilometer radius.

The project has yet to be completed, but this early, farmers are already reaping the benefits of progress, as they have received financial and technological assistance from the sugarcane plantation managed by Ecofuel Land Development Inc.

Once the bio-ethanol plant is operational, more jobs would be available. Given the employment opportunity, majority of the residents, including local officials, are in favor of the project.

More than 1,000 residents even signed a petition for the zone for peace to reiterate their call for peace and development in the municipality. A copy of the petition will be given to President Aquino, congressmen, the Commission on Human Rights and other government agencies.

Jose Wanol, president of the multi-sectoral group AlamatKa, who is also a signatory to the petition, said, “We all know how San Mariano was in the past, and what it is today. Let us not let anything happen to hamper our road to success. We should support moves for change and development that is right in our midst.”

San Mariano Mayor Edgar Go thanked the participants in the peace gathering, which coincided with the International Human Rights Day, and reiterated his support for the bio-ethanol project.