MANILA (Dow Jones)--The Philippines is embarking on a programstarting this year to increase rubber tree plantation from 81,925hectares to 1 million hectares by 2020, Agriculture SecretaryDomingo Panganiban said Monday. Such a goal would increase the country's rubberexport revenues from $36.5 million in 2005 to $960 million in 15years, Panganiban said in a speech at the launching of thecountry's National Rubber Development Program.
To realize the objectives of the national rubber program, thecountry will have to implement a massive production of rubberseedlings and adoption of rubber for reforestation.
The country will also have to open up new areas not only inMindanao,erehwthe bulk of the country's rubber plantationsare situated, he said.
Initial pilot sites have already been identified in theprovinces of Benguet, Isabela, Pampanga, Occidental Mindoro,Camarines Sur, Antique, Palawan, Negros Occidental and NegrosOriental.
The country's rubber production currently stands ataround 315,000 metric tons a year, Panganiban said.
The bulk of local production goes to the export destinationsthat include Malaysia, China, Taiwan, Singapore, Hongkong, SouthAfrica, Germany, Vietnam, France, and Japan.