As the Bohol Jatropha Propagation Project reels off, fund releases for compensation of farm workers is now pegged at average of P300,000 per week. Jatropha Propagation Project Director Antonieto “Boy” Pernia announced that, for the initial hectarage of 500 hectares, an allocation of P1.8 million has been readied for immediate release of compensation to farm workers. For October 6 and 7 alone, a total of P82,767 had been released to farm workers in the towns of Calape, Loon and Corella. In Calape, a total of P10,500 was released to farm workers in barangay Canguha, and P19,800 to barangay Cabudburan. In Loon, P15,000 was released to workers in barangay Pig-ot, P18,750 to Campatud, P9,375 to Genomoan, and P2,475 in Catam-is Baslay. In Corella, a total of P6,867 was released to workers in Canangcaan.

Pernia said Ubay has proven the busiest with the largest hectarage, so far, that the releases of compensation to farm workers runs at an average of P796,000. As of this phase, farm activities comprise of land preparation and sowing of seedlings where land owners or administrators may hire farm workers to do the tasks or do it themselves. Pernia said the project targets to convert a total of 40,000 hectares of idle lands in Bohol into Jatropha plantations that will be implemented at a rate of 5,000 hectares per batch. It will give farmers a year-round harvest for 25 years, Pernia added.