Bioethanol plant most welcome

When I read the June 8 article highlighting the International Fact-Finding Mission’s confirmation of the reported land-grabbing cases in San Mariano, Isabela, my immediate reaction was to call it a lie!

I own some five hectares of farmland here in Barangay Del Pilar, San Mariano. This I have been tilling for corn with my father since I was 20 years old. Even during the initial stages of the plan to set up the bioethanol plant, we were consulted by various groups, not only from government but also from private organizations, as to the pros and cons of the project. Luckily for us farmers, the pros were greater than the cons. This is why almost all of us farmers here in our barangay agreed to the plan to plant sugarcane instead.

We did not object to having the bioethanol plant in our area. In fact, the residents here welcome it because we know it will create jobs especially for those who have no other sources of income. Even at this stage, some residents already have ready markets for their produce, as more and more people enter our area because of the ongoing construction of the plant. We know there will be a lot more job opportunities when plant operations go on full steam.

It pains us small farmers to learn that some groups have been trying to block the good life that is waiting for us here in San Mariano. With the benefits accompanying the bioethanol plant, only one thing could be surmised: an international group and all others have their respective agenda. Whatever these may be, this will definitely not be good for San Mariano farmers.

To my fellow farmers in San Mariano, let us not allow such an agenda to prevail over ours! To the international group and their conspirators, stop your scheme, it won’t work!

—ELPIDIO I. BULAN JR.,

ejrbulan@yahoo.com