TuboChar Launches with Social Preparations, Focus Group Discussions
March 2019
Staff from the North Luzon Expressway Corporation (NLEX Corporation) interview members of the Bantog community as part of social preparations for the TuboChar project. Photograph © Alo Lantin / WWF-Philippines
Activities under the TuboChar project officially began with interviews and focus group discussions with partner farmers in the community of Bantog, Tarlac on the 4th of March, 2019. The World Wide Fund for Nature Philippines (WWF-Philippines), Project Lead, brought official partners, the North Luzon Expressway Corporation (NLEX Corporation) and HiGi Energy, to be introduced to the community and to participate in activities.
TuboChar is the latest project in WWF-Philippines’ effort to bring food security to rural communities in the Philippines. Recognizing the opportunity for agri-business in the production of charcoal in Bantog, an area rich in sugarcane resource, as well as the possibility of reducing emissions through the use of technology, WWF-Philippines, together with NLEX Corporation, approached the community in the hopes of augmenting their livelihoods.
Staff from the North Luzon Expressway Corporation (NLEX Corporation) interview members of the Bantog community as part of social preparations for the TuboChar project. Photograph © Alo Lantin / WWF-Philippines
Monci Hinay, WWF-Philippines Project Manager presided over the event alongside representatives from NLEX Corporation. Introductions were made between farmers from Bantog Magsikap Farmers Association and green charcoal trainers from HiGi Energy, who will be assisting the community in adopting and handing the technology to be introduced throughout the duration of TuboChar.
“This is just the pilot barrio. Here, we have ten barrios. If we see that this project is successful, we’ll transfer it to the other barrios,” says Edgar Sumat, Barangay Chairman of Bantog and President of Bantog Magsikap Farmer’s Association. Sumat worked for eight years on highly mechanized sugar cane farms in Australia, and wishes to bring the same technologies to the Philippines for the benefit of his community.
Staff from WWF-Philippines and HiGi Energy conduct a focus group discussion with farmers from Bantog. Photograph © Alo Lantin / WWF-Philippines
“I know charcoal. If we’re successful, this is another source of income [for my community].. My vision is that one day we no longer have to take loans – that we can provide everything by ourselves,” continues Sumat.
Trainings are expected to begin over the coming months, to lay down the foundations of a community-run green charcoal production enterprise. With the introductory phase now done, the community of Bantog is ready to move forward with WWF-Philippines and NLEX Corporation in the development of an agri-enterprise that is right for them.
For more information, please contact:
Communications & Media Manager Mr. Dan Ramirez (dramirez@wwf.org.ph)
