Oil Palm Plantation to be Developed in Caraga Region

An oil firm is planning to develop an initial 50,000-hectare oil palm plantation in Northeastern Mindanao or the Caraga region this year according to news report in Manila Bulletin on January 08.  The Eastern  Petroleum Group of Companies (EPGC) is targeting areas in the region, particularly in the Agusan provinces, where good and suitable terrain would be good for planting palm trees, according to Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Regional Director Brielgo O. Pagaran, the report said.  Pagaran added EPGC was looking for available lands which could be leased for 25 years with automatic renewal of another 25 years.  The company is eyeing to develop at least 200,000 hectares oil palm plantation in Caraga region in the coming years.