When implemented, the law will require registered vehicle owners to use two kinds of biofuel: bioethanol from sugarcane (as an additive to gasoline) and biodiesel from coconuts (as an additive to diesel).
Biofuels are good not only for the environment because they can reduce pollution and energy utilization, not to mention ensuring the country's energy sovereignty.
There's more. During the OPAPP meeting, president Roberto Montelibano said the propagation of Jatropha curcas, or "kasla," can even promote peace in the hinterlands. He's planning on establishing a plantation in Cadiz, right near a so-called RPA-ABB "controlled territory."
DENR Secretary Angelo Reyes batted for kasla propagation in Community-Based Forest Management Areas to provide participants with sources of livelihood.
Sometime last week, together with BIND colleague Robert Gasparillo, I had talk with Tanjay Councilor Placido Sydney O. Mapa. He sought our advice on whether to go for palm oil or kasla in his town.
We suggested that he go for kasla, which has many advantages. It is a drought-resistant perennial shrub whose fruit can be processed into oil. The oil can be further refined to produce biodiesel.
Introduced from Malaya during prehistoric times, its traditional use among indigenous is for poisoning fish. The roots, leaves, bark and seeds contain purgative properties, while the bruised root can be applied to carbuncles and cancerous sores. Another friend and colleague María Cristina S. Guerrero sent me a PowerPoint presentation on kasla. Produced by the Palawan Biodiesel Development Corporation, the company listed the advantages.
In severely denuded Negrense mountains, kasla can grow almost anywhere even in very poor soil. Despite El Niño, it can resist drought and can withstand prolong dry season. For permaculturists, the plant is ideal as permanent crop and be can be grown as intercrop, not as a monoculture. In fact, allocated planting sites can be planted to a minimum of half a hectare, either pure stand or as intercrop.
For entrepreneurs, it requires very low maintenance ("plant and forget") and can involve almost all farmers. A fast growing shrub, at three years, it can produce five kilos.
The PBDC presentation calculated outputs and potential household incomes for farmers. A hectare can yield at the lowest 4,000 kilos to the highest of 15,000 kilos per year. That would translate to a household income of between P16,000 to P60,000.
Loath as I am to bombard readers with figures on top of one another, I think it's worth our while to think in terms of land uses for our degraded mountains. Just ponder on what data from PNOC Alternative Fuels says. A refinery with an annual capacity of 60,000 metric tons will need feedstock from a 30,000-hectare jatropha plantation, while one with an annual capacity of 240,000 metric tons will need raw material supply from a 120,000-hectare plantation.
Not bad. In fact, for poor mountain farmers, that income level translates to a fortune.
Aside from biofuel, the extracted oil when used as a liniment can be used for rheumatism and cough attacks and to treat ailments like constipation, intestinal obstructions, and lead poisoning.
Revulsives, to the lay reader, are remedies known to remove the diseased action from the seat of mischief to the place of their application. So, there. A shrub for peace, renewable energy, medicine, and livelihood improvement poised for take-off. We can thank the high costs of fossil fuels to make us realize the importance of kasla as a renewable resource.
Comments are most welcome. Please send email to bqsanc@yahoo.com.
(October 16, 2006 issue) Write letter to the editor. Click here. Join the Sun.Star message board. Click here.
