Booming rubber tree business in Philippines

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Quezon province in the Philippines is collaborating with a private group that will invest in a rubber tree plantation within the province. Pablito Budoy of DTI-Quezon said at present, a rubber tree plantation in Gen. Nakar and Real, Quezon can be expanded with the aim of supplying the local and world market with raw materials for car tires, rubber slippers and other items made of rubber.

He added that Quezon has suitable weather conditions for rubber tree plantations. A hectare of the plantation can hold 625 trees. It would be mature for harvesting and tapping after five to seven years. An interested investor will need P44,000 per hectare and monthly maintenance expenses of P2,250 for the next 60 months or five years.(RJA)