Peasant Group Calls for Review of Biofuels Law; Fears Land Grab, Displacement

THE PHILIPPINES – The militant peasant group Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP or Philippine Peasant Movement) called for the review of the Biofuels Law fearing that jathropa planting would intensify land grabbing and peasant displacement.

The Philippine National Oil Company (PNOC) heads this project. The KMP opposes the setting up of a jathropa farm in Quezon which it said would cause the displacement of farmers.


According to the government, the country could save as much as $2 billion annually if it shifts from imported diesel to locally-produced biodiesel. The country imports about $7 billion worth of oil and petroleum products, 25 percent of which is diesel.

Three kilos of tuba-tuba or jathropa seeds or nuts could produce a liter of bio-diesel. Tuba-tuba bio-diesel readily mixes with diesel fuel and can run any diesel engine without modification.

However, Rafael