‘Coconut is not called the tree of life for nothing’

I fully agree with Neal H. Cruz (Opinion, 11/18/13): The survivors of “Yolanda” may have forgotten an abundant source of food and water in the devastated areas: coconut. In Leyte alone there are 19 million trees which can provide 19 million coconut cabbage (where you get your lumpiang ubod). Each ubod  weighs one to two kilos. At the very least Yolanda felled 3 million coconut trees; these can provide at least 3 million kilos of ubod.

In addition, there could be millions of unhusked coconuts that can provide buko juice or coco water which is more nutritious than mineral water. Coconut milk has the same lauric acid as that of infant milk. Thus, there will be enough food for infants and adults.

Moreover, the coconut trees completely damaged can provide millions of board feet of coco lumber, which would be capable of providing material for the decent housing of more than 100,000 displaced victims. That is why the response of the  Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) after the disaster is to send chainsaws (although 120 only, far from the 1,000 needed) to the devastated areas.

The PCA also plans to replicate in Leyte and Samar its cash for work program, which is still going on in Storm “Pablo”-devastated areas. In order to provide the victims with work, they will be hired to operate the chainsaws at a daily rate of P300 for 15 days. Other victims will replace them for the same period. The coco lumber may be used by the farmer-owner for his housing or he may sell it to augment his income. On the other hand, the millions of fronds can be used, as they have been used with or without typhoons, as roofing or walling materials.

The victims need not live in tents for long if those tasked to house them can properly use the millions of board feet of coco lumber and the coconut fronds that can be derived from the trees in the area. Why live in a tent city when we can have our very own and more dignified bahay-kubo city?

Coconut is not called the tree of life for nothing.

—EUCLIDES G. FORBES,

administrator,

Philippine Coconut Authority