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Indonesia's Masarang Foundation Proves that FDI Can Greatly Help Local Philippine Agriculture

As I've sipped two glasses of Tealive's Aren Caramel (read here)--I was tempted to research more on palm sugar from the Arenga tree. Arenga bears the fruit that Filipinos call kaong and Indonesians call kolang kaling. As a Filipino, I prefer to call it the Kaong Tree or Punuan ng Kaong. This video is from Masarang, Indonesia. Masarang in Tagalog means strong. If the Indonesian word means strong as well--this is a very strong foundation. The research on palm sugar landed me in the organization called Yayasan Masarang or Masarang Foundation. The video I just shared shows the struggle of palm tappers and how FDI can help in learning environmentally-friendly practices. 

The late Lee Kuan Yew even published in his book From Third World to First about greening Singapore. The pernicious myth that's spread around is that Singapore supposedly only opened to FDI due to lack of natural resources. However, other countries rich in natural resources like Malaysia, Indonesia, Japan, China, India, and Vietnam did so and see where it got. I also wrote an article where I discussed cheaper onions from FDI-friendly countries. For instance, Indians tend to consume more onions than Filipinos do. Chicken curry uses more onions than sisig. Yet, Indians in India can get cheaper prices of onions but why not the Philippines? 

Getting to know the Masarang Foundation

The founder of the Masarang Foundation is a guy from the Netherlands. He's referred to as Dr. Willie Smits. The Masarang Foundation's team describes Smits with this quote:

I initiated the Masarang Foundation in the year 2001 based upon the traditional values of the local Tombulu people to preserve the fast vanishing and unique biodiversity of the island of Sulawesi. Originally we hoped to preserve the local culture and knowhow of the local people and to do reforestation of the denuded slopes of the Masarang Mountain. Soon we learned that it would take much more… Now I dare say that our greatly scaled-up work in North Sulawesi has become exemplary for its integration of social acceptability, environmental sustainability and economic feasibility. We are proud to now share our positive results with people from all around Indonesia.

A more interesting side is Smits is described with his credentials as a forestry engineer, microbiologist, conservationist, animal activist, and social entrepreneur. What can be read about him impresses me more than anti-FDI ranters who throw their garbage just anywhere:

Smits is the founder and chairman of the Masarang Foundation in Indonesia which protects and restores nature together with the local people. At Masarang International Willie is honorary board member and founding father. Needless to say is that all the efforts of Masarang International are to support Willie and his pioneering work on reforestation and sustainability.

In his forestry work Willie has seen how logging and palm oil plantations destroy the rainforest. Rainforest which is indispensable for the survival of many valuable plants and animals and very important to support (human) life. This has motivated him to fight for the rainforest and work on solutions that expand the forest and benefit human beings.

Watching the video that I shared touched my heart. More often than not, it's very easy to look down at people like palm tappers. I was often told, "If you don't get high grades then you will end up like them." However, these palm tappers have been working to send their children to school and are honored in this video. In fact, even better treated than menial service workers in the Philippines! The team also involves members such as Dudung Pakpahan and Billy Lolowang. Pakpahan shares this view as an Indonesian member of the Masarang Foundation:

“Masarang final goal is, save the nature while improve local people life quality…

This goal is my dream and the purpose of my long journey as Environment Conservation activist… 

So reach that goal is like to make my dream come true…

The challenge is huge, the road is oftenly stiff.. Only the strong heart and believe can make us move forward to reach the goal…”

What the Philippines can learn from Masarang International 

I remembered going to Surigao where I tasted latik. Latik is often termed caramel produced from coconut milk. Though, I think latik has been used also to refer to palm sugar. The Philippines has been home to the kaong fruit--not just Indonesia or Malaysia. While I drank my glass of Aren Caramel Milk Tea--I could remember the latik I tasted from Surigao.

It's often used by anti-FDI naysayers that FDI will destroy nature (such as that page called the Philippine Anti-Fascist League, led by an obviously bitter guy). However, the testimony of Singapore can prove otherwise. I even wrote about how FDI doesn't always equal environmental destruction. A question that I really want to ask such people if local investors who destroy nature are always preferable over FDIs who have environmentally friendly practices (read here). How can these anti-FDI naysayers even talk about the environment when their rallies always leave tons of garbage which they don't even bother to pick up?! I guess that's why many of them hate Singapore not just because of the late Flor Contemplacion. It's also because Singapore has very strict rules about littering garbage.

Masarang's aim of environmental preservation also links to preserving several vital products. One of them is palm sugar. Masarang Foundation mentions the importance of forests and links it to what Filipinos may call latik:

The amazing sugar palm has a central role in Masarang’s reforestation programs. This particular tree can be used both locally and globally as a sustainable resource and therefore be a very good alternative to the devastating palm oil.

Palm sugar has unique features.

Palm sugar is made from the sap of the Indonesian Arenga palm.

The sugar has a light caramel-like flavor and is not as sweet as for instance sugar cane.

Not only the taste of the sugar is unique, but also the environmentally friendly manufacturing process and the perceived health benefits.

Just imagine that if that's all about setting up a branch of Masarang Foundation in the Philippines. A Dutch guy who knows what he's doing is better than a local who doesn't. Lee even hired the late Albert Winsemius to help him develop Singapore. Winsemius knew better than the economists of Lee's day who believed the same nonsense as many anti-FDI Filipinos.  

The video I shared earlier also shows how latik is made at an industrial level. Just imagine what the Masarang Foundation can do for the poorer regions of the Philippines. The video showed how the Masarang Foundation managed to help provide jobs for palm tappers and send the children to school. Electrification has helped that particular place in Indonesia get better development while preserving nature. 

The mission objective of Masarang can really fit the Philippines. Just replace Indonesia with the Philippines (both countries are rich in natural resources) and we meet the three objectives. Nature conservation, improved well-being, and sustainable agriculture. Both the Philippines and Indonesia suffer from degradation. It's a good thing that an FDI like Masarang is there. I believe that organizations like Masarang can help the Philippines.

Just imagine if the Philippines can also produce latik and conserve forests. I could care less if the investor was a Filipino, an Indonesian, or whatever. My concern is that this investor cares about environmentally friendly business practices. 

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