Every country is trying to address the global warming issue.

Just last week, The Philippine Daily Inquirer’s Talk of the Town Section featured the Clinton climate initiative.  It is reported that 16 cities namely on 6 continents:  Bangkok, Berlin, Chicago, Houston, Johannesburg, Karachi, London, Melbourne, Mexico City, Mumbai, New York, Rome, Sao Paolo, Seoul, Tokyo and Toronto have forged to address the problem of climate change.  This project is named as the Energy Efficiency Building Retrofit Program.    The William J. Clinton Foundation with partnership with global banks are going to finance the refurbishing of old building like the replacement of the lighting, cooling and heating systems with energy efficient networks, through granting of loans – making buildings efficient.

Even artists have joined in the crusade. Actress Julia Roberts bought a car, which runs on biodiesel and Singer Sheryl Crow was reported to have “toured the US on a biodiesel-powered bus to raise awareness about climate change.”

The Philippines, following the trend, has been rated as one of the countries with the highest global warming awareness. 

Her Excellency Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has been also trying to address this problem since she assumed presidency in 2001; through Memorandum Circular 55, directing all offices of the government – including government owned and controlled corporations – to incorporate the use of 1% by volume Coco-Methyl Ester (CME) in their diesel requirements. 

In 2006, at the State Visit of the Indian President, His Excellency A.P.J. Abdul Kalam shared with President Macapagal-Arroyo the wonders of Jatropha.  She then instructed former PMS head Secretary Renato S. Velasco to spearhead this endeavor. 

Barely a year old in the task, Secretary Velasco (now head of the PNOC-Alternative Fuels Corporation) was able to put up a world conference on biofuels feedstock conference.  This conference was well attended by foreign players and movers of bio-fuels experts. President Macapagal-Arroyo mandates PAFC in the massive development of Jatropha in the Philippines as the biodiesel fuel for the future.

First, let us deal with its name:  Jatropha Curcas – by definition – is a plant, a shrub or a tree.  Let’s take a look back to our botany lesson.

This plant’s botanical name is Jatropha curcas from the Euphorbiaceae Family.  Its English name is Physic Nut.  It also goes by the name Purge Nut, Pig Nut, Fig Nut or simply Jatropha. 

Jatropha is from the Greek word jatros (doctor) and trophe (food) that implies medicinal uses. 

Other vernacular names are:  Pourghére, Pignon d’Inde (French); Purgeernoot (Dutch); Brechnuß, Purgiernuß (German); Purgueira (Portuguese); Fagiola d’India (Italian); Dand Barrí, Habel Meluk (Arab); Kanananaeranda, Parvataranda (Sanskrit); Bagnherenda, Jangliarandi, Safed arand (Hindi); Kadam (Nepal); Yu-lu-Tzu (Chinese); Sabudam (Thailand); Jarak Budeg (Indonesia); Bagani (Cote d’Ivore) Kpoti (Togo); Tabanani (Senegal); Mupuluka (Angola); Butuje (Nigeria); Makaen (Tanzania); Piñoncillo (Mexico); Coquillo, Tempate (Costa Rica); Tartago (Puerto Rico); Mundubi-assu (Brazil); Piñol (Peru) and Pinón (Guatemala).

Locally, it has varied names like Tuba-tuba or Tubang bakod in Tagalog; Kasla in Visayas; Galumbang in Pampanga and Tagatagumbao in Ilocos. 

Jatropha Curcas--Origin. 

In almost all literature that I’ve come across, this plant is said to originally come from the Americas , brought by the Portuguese seafarers via Cape Verde Islands , to Africa then to other parts of the world.

In ancient times, Jatropha Curcas is used as an oracle to determine the guilt or innocence of the accused.  To achieve justice, the accused person/s had to eat the plant.   The innocent would vomit whereas the guilty would die.

In Brazil , it is planted around the houses to guard against misfortunes in the southeast of Piaui.

In Cape Verde , Jatropha Curcas is planted in arid areas for soil erosion and is also used as a burning material.

In Africa , Jatropha Curcas oil was used for skin care and cosmetics, pesticide, fuel oil for lighting and cooking and for diesel.  Africa ’s poverty alleviation program: the soap industry.

However, it was in India where it became a hit—locally known as Ratan Jyoth.  Jatropha Curcas has been identified as a National biofuel source. In July 2002, a Committee on Development of Biofuels was created under the Ministry of Rural Development.

Then, no less than Her Excellency President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, re-introduced Jatropha Curcas here in the Philippines !  President Macapagal-Arroyo learned about this miracle plant from the Indian President, His Excellency A.P.J Abdul Kalam, who was here in February 3, 2006 for a state visit. In that short visit, President Macapagal-Arroyo was motivated to take the Philippines in the mainstream of the Biofuels Industry.

With Jatropha wonders in mind, President Macapagal-Arroyo appointed Secretary Renato S. Velasco to head this endeavor.  Thus, the Philippine National Oil Company – Alternative Fuels Corporation (PAFC) was born.

Jatropha Parts and its uses

Jatropha Curcas is generally a shrub but it can grow to a small tree – as high as 5 feet.  It has spreading branches and stubby twigs.  It is usually used as a live fence posts in fields/settlements and as a traditional medicine.  Jatropha Curcas is best suited in arid, arable or infertile lands.  It can survive with little water or rainfall – as low as 500 mm. It grows better in hot rather than temperate climate—a sun lover; and is usually found in lower elevations. This is a low maintenance plant thus can address soil erosion.  Other parts can be used as:

Leaves and Bark.

The leaves and bark can be safely eaten when steamed or stewed. It is said to soothe pain reliever for rheumatism and other skin disease and to heal skin laceration.  A decoction of leaves is used against cough and as an antiseptic after birth.  The branch is used as a chewing stick in Nigeria .

Seed-cake.

Seed-cake is a by-product from the oil extraction that can be converted into fertilizer—organic manure.

Seeds.

The seed is used as a laxative or purgative. This is where we get the oil.  The oil can be extracted either hydraulically using a press or chemically using solvents.  Jatropha Oil can be used for:  skin care and cosmetics; pesticide; fuel for lighting or for cooking or for diesel. 

Jatropha in the Philippines

A Botanist, Merrill, in his research studies, stated that Jatropha is in existent in the Philippines even before 1750.  That was the reason why Jatropha Curcas is everywhere.  If we take a closer look at the plants surrounding us, chances are there is one jatropha rooted in the ground—since this plant do not need maintenance. It can grow in harsh weather condition and in infertile soil.  Imagine that! 

So, Jatropha Curcas in the Philippines , like in other countries, is not only used for medical purposes but it has a greater impact to the economy – domestic and global.

Now, PNOC-AFC is furthering the development of the other alternative sources of fuels starting with Jatropha Curcas.

So with the right handling, it can solve most of our problems – from the very basic like hedging (protecting our property from freely ranging cattle, sheep or goat), to our national problem that is unemployment, to global warming, also as an alternative source of fuel and even our housing problem!  That is why it is a jatropha – a miracle!  Wow!

---- Ms. Yoko C. Ramos