The tree of life will soon become Philippines’ source of ethyl alcohol.
The country targets to mass produce its first ethyl alcohol called the ALCOCO hand sanitizer, a 70% ethyl alcohol solution from distilled coconut nectar which was recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration of the Philippines.
The company behind ALCOCO, Philippine Craft Distillers, Inc. (PCDI), presented the product to Philippine Coconut Authority Administrator Benjamin Madrigal, Jr. on June 26.
It was certified by Intertek Testing Services Philippines, Inc., an international testing laboratory with locations in over 100 countries worldwide.
“Ethyl alcohol from coconuts is a welcome development in the industry especially now that we are experiencing the COVID-19 pandemic,” Madrigal said. “This local source will make the Philippines less dependent on imported ethyl alcohol from other countries.”
He added that it will serve as an additional source of livelihood for the 3.5 million farmers in the coconut industry.
ALCOCO hand sanitizer is sourced from the liquid that is extracted from the inflorescence of coconut trees.
“We harvest coconut nectar with farmers from the CALABARZON region. We then distill and compound it in FDA-approved facilities,” said PCDI president Atty. Anthony C. Manguiat.
