BRIQUETTES ON FIRE:

Forest Wastes into Fuel

Jennel B. Orantes, LPT,PhDUniversity of Antique

Mayor Santiago Lotilla St., Sibalom

5713, Antique

• Charcoal is the primary fuel used among households in the Province of Antique.

• Availability of charcoal in the market became so limited due to the implementation of DENR Administrative Order N0.97-32 ( Rules for the

Administrative Adjudication of Illegal Forest Products & the Machinery, Equipment,

Tools & Conveyances)

• In the Province of Antique charcoal makers are restricted to sell charcoal in any part of the province.

• The catastrophic experience during typhoon Frank in 2008 which resulted to the destruction of many lives and properties in the province was one of the reasons for this action of the local government.

• Livelihoods of upland farmers were affected.

• In order to sustain the income of these farmers through charcoal production and at the same time protect the forests, upland farmers were trained on Charcoal Briquettes making

• Train the upland farmers to produce charcoal briquettes for household consumption and for livelihood from raw materials such as leaves, twigs, woody items, and other forest and agricultural wastes

• Minimize the cutting of trees among upland farmers for charcoal production

• Provide farmers the technology to continue their livelihood without compromising the natural forests

• Consultation/Meeting among partner agencies

(LGU/DSWD)

• Identification of beneficiaries/partners –interview and social preparation of target beneficiaries

• Provision of materials and equipment – DSWD provided the starter kit

Collection of Plant debris

& other agricultural &

forests wastes

Drum method of Carbonization

Carbonized agricultural

wastes &

other woody items

Pulverized charcoal

Mixing with

cassava as

binder and

molding

using

improvised

molder

the

• The upland farmers are now producing

and selling charcoal briquettes in their

community. With the resources available

in the community, producers need not to

invest capital for their livelihood. With this

project, trees in the upland were saved

and farmers were given their other source

of income.

• Charcoal producers also participated in

different exhibits to showcase their

products not only in the province of

Antique but also in the nearby provinces

• Farmers share the technology with

other farmers.

• Being the consumer , farmers

appreciated their own products.

According to them, charcoal

briquettes emit a steady heat with

low clean flame and it is easy to

ignite and burns completely.

A comparative analysisof type of charcoal requiredper households was made bythe Department ofEnvironment and NaturalResources. The result of theiranalysis revealed that in oneday (3 meals) eachhousehold could consume1.69 kg of briquettedcharcoal which is comparablylesser to 3.50 kg of ordinarycharcoal.

Table 1. Comparative analysis of type of charcoal required per household

Table 2. Heating Values of Various Sample Briquettes

Common agricultural crops in the province

includes corn , palay, coconut, peanut, cacao,

etc. Table below shows some of the crops

produced and the corresponding yield in

metric tons. Wastes from these agricultural

crops are the raw materials for charcoal

briquettes production.

Table 3. Crops Production in the Province of Antique as of 2015 Report

Crops Yield (MT)

Rice 226,888.91

Corn 2763.36

Sugar Cane 65,175

Peanut 427.63

Coffee 113.16

Cacao 41.22

Coconut 70,704 (2012 PCA Report)

• The use of charcoal briquettes can reduce wood charcoal consumption of households and domestic enterprises of fuel wood.

• The use of charcoal briquettes do not only put forest wastes into good use, but also help mitigate carbon dioxide emission in the atmosphere and lessens the depletion of country’s forest resources.

• The financial parameters and computation from the project of DENR has an IRR of 92%. Such results indicated that the project is feasible and can be considered by upland communities in the Province of Antique as one of their livelihood.

• The success of any projects relies on the collaborative efforts and involvement among partners.

• Commitment of beneficiaries is vital in the sustainability of the project.

• The academe just like University of Antique plays a significant role not only in the economic progress of the nearby community, but also in support to the program of the government on climate change mitigation and environmental protection through its research and extension endeavors.

The happy faces of

the participants after

their successful

hands-on production

of environment-

friendly and

economically

feasible charcoal

briquettes.

References

• DENR Master Plan for Forestry Development in 1990

• Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau (ERDB) and the Forest Products Research and

• Development Institute (FPRDI). Manuscript and materials prepared by Baconguis, S.R., Calderon, A.G. and Zuniga, J.B.(1996)

• FPRDI 1996

• OPA-Antique Agri-Fishery Production Status Report 2015

• Philippine Coconut Authority 2012 Report

• The Philippine Household Energy Strategy Study, A Joint UNDP/World Bank Energy Sector

• Management Program, 1992