Barangay produces environment, health friendly charcoal
MANGALDAN – Environmental friendly charcoal anyone?
The charcoal made out of dried branches and leaves is the source of main livelihood for a group of parents and youths in barangay Alitaya.
Niño Garin, leader of the Alitaya Parents and Youths Association (APYA) revealed their charcoal-making livelihood has been operating for over a year now, producing 1, 000 kilograms of charcoal per month which they sell to poultry farm owners.
“Our charcoal is different because we need not cut trees to make them but we just collect dried leaves and plant branches to turn these biodegradable materials through a technology taught by Share an Opportunity (SAO) Philippines into charcoal”, said Garin.
Garin pointed out that the charcoal they make is also health-friendly because it does not produce fume or smoke unlike the usual wood charcoal.
“Five pieces of our charcoal can cook rice and one viand”, said Garin.
The group sells the charcoal at P18 to P30 per kilo.
The group plans to expand its operations to the other barangays in the town but the local government unit has not yet acted on its proposal submitted to Mayor Bonafe Parayno.
“The funds we used in constructing the building for our charcoal-making came from our own pockets while the machines were from SAO, we hope to have a drying facility because the rain and typhoons disrupt our work”, said Garin.
A portion of the field in their neighborhood serves as the drying place for the charcoal.
“We are hoping to expand so that we could help with the recycling of biodegradable materials in our town and also to help in the livelihood of our townmates”, said Garin.
The group also plans to turn the smoke from the carbonized dried leaves and branches into an organic fertilizer. (Hilda Austria/PNA)
Share your Comments or Reactions
Powered by Facebook Comments
