Representatives from EcoNexus International, led by Mr. Jeremy Salomon and Ms. Bernie Gutay Jajalla, together with Ms. Anabelle D. Tuy from the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA), paid a courtesy visit to Mayor Rex C. Oliva to present a coconut husk and shell processing facility proposal, which has been exclusively offered to Iriga City.
Under the proposed joint investment, EcoNexus plans to establish a processing facility in Iriga City, featuring $2 million in capital and technology investment for machinery and equipment, while local cooperatives will allocate $1 million for operational expenses to source husks and shells. The joint venture aims to produce peat and charcoal, offering significant economic and environmental benefits.
The project is expected to:
– ProvideP58,000.00 – P60,000.00 daily income for cooperatives and farmers by selling 100,000 husks.
– Employ 40 workers at the facility.
– Generate 20 tons of peat products daily, yielding P 200,000.00 in revenue.
– Promote sustainability by planting nine new coconut trees per day, totalling to 2,520 trees annually.
EcoNexus estimates that to meet the target of 28 million husks annually, approximately 4,895 hectares of coconut plantations will be required, with each hectare yielding 5,720 fruits per year. The company is committed to partnering with local farmers and cooperatives to ensure efficient husk collection and repopulation efforts.
If approved, the Iriga City Husk & Shell Processing Facility will serve as the pilot project for the country, setting a precedent for sustainable coconut waste utilization and economic growth in the region.
Source: Lungsod Ng Iriga