Planting of Giant Ipil-ipil Trees To Increase Income of Residents Around Paoay Lake Area in Ilocos Norte

July 13, 1978

LETTER OF INSTRUCTIONS NO. 721

A major objective of the Paoay Lake Development Program is the promotion of economic and social development of the communities around Paoay Lake in Ilocos Norte. Towards this end, it is imperative that a development plan be formulated and pursued to increase the income of the residents around Paoay Lake, as well as afford them other profitable industries to improve their economic status. Studies show that production of leaf meal could be a major source of extra income for the residents, and it is desirable, therefore that the residents in the Paoay Lake area be encouraged to plant the giant ipil-ipil, the leaves of which can be fed to ruminants or processed to leaf meal and sold to the Feedmill in Batac, Ilocos Norte, or other feedmillers. cd i

More than this, however, it is desirable that this concept be propagated on a nationwide scale as a means of intensifying the reforestation program as well as raising incomes from marginal lands.

In order to attain the foregoing, you are hereby directed to prepare a model project for leaf meal production from giant ipil-ipil trees in coordination with the Manila Seedling Bank, Inc., to fill up the projected ten (10%) percent annual increase in the demand for the forestry product.

Immediate compliance with this Letter of Instructions is hereby enjoined.

DONE in the City of Manila, this 13th day of July, in the year of Our Lord, Nineteen Hundred and Seventy-Eight. acd