DENR-Samar PENRO drumbeats economic importance of tuba-tuba plant

By NINFA B. QUIRANTE (PIA Samar)
June 28, 2007

CATBALOGAN, Samar  –  DENR-Samar PENRO George Guillermo exalted the economic importance of Jatropha Curcas (locally known tuba-tuba) in  a press conference, Friday at the Basey Gymnasium.

PENRO Guillermo said that jathropa has been endorsed by no less than PGMA who believes the economic benefits, Filipinos could get from planting tuba-tuba.

Guillermo also informed the media of the different uses of the plant to man like: jatropha curcas extracted oil is used as Bio-Diesel, varnishes, illuminants, soap, pest control and medicinal for skin diseases and purgative.

Jatropha Curcas is also resistant to drought and can be planted even in the desert climates, and it thrives on any type of soil, grows almost anywhere; in sandy, gravelly and saline soils. It needs minimal input or management, has no insect pests and not browsed by cattle or sheep, it starts yielding from the second year onwards and continues for 40 years.

Approximately 31-37% of oil can be extracted from the jatropha curcas seed. It can be used for any diesel engine without modification.

Basey Mayor Vicente Labuac also added that 1 liter of bio-diesel can be extracted from three kilos of tuba-tuba seeds.

The government, Guillermo added, is eyeing the production of some 5.6-billion liters of bio-fuel from the Jatropha plantations in the next 10 to 12 years.

Barangay officials have meanwhile expressed concern over the marketing of said plant but PENRO Guillermo replied that the Philippine Forest Corporation has assured a ready market.

To affirm his claim was LtCol. Jonathan Ponce of the 62nd Infantry Battalion who admitted that his troops have planted tuba-tuba some two years ago.