CHAPTER I

THE PROBLEM AND ITS SETTING

Introduction

In our current times, we usually neglect that even

the waste we have can also be beneficial to us. All we have

to do is to find a way for it to be useful again. Especially

those agricultural, crop, livestock and even school paper

wastes where we can get biomass energy.

These biomass energies are one of the important

renewable resources. They can be used as a great fuel to

alleviate the shortage in scarcity on energy especially in

terms of cooking. Wherein compared with gas, wind and solar

energy, biomass briquettes are easier to promote and

popularized, and as convenient and clear with the said types

of energies.1

Over the last 15 years, the Philippines has endeavored

to improve its management and operation of solid waste

through the implementation of several national laws like the

Republic Act 9003 (RA9003), also called the “Ecological

Solid Waste Management Act of 2000”. This law manifests the

policy of the Philippine government to “adopt a systematic,

comprehensive, and ecological solid waste management (SWM)

program in the country” and is based on the hierarchy of

waste management, which promotes the source reduction,

reuse, recycling and resource recovery (3Rs) of materials.

Under this Philippine law, an SWM Framework Plan is hoped to

empower the informal sector as a partner of public and

private institutions, organizations and corporations in the

promotion and implementation of the 3Rs with the overall

objective of alleviating poverty. Being an agricultural

country, the Philippines generates a substantial amount of

bio-residues (biomass) with promising potentials when

properly utilized as renewable sources for industrial,

commercial and household purposes. Especially, its use as

alternative fuel for cooking is relevant for poorer

households. This includes among others rice husk, residues

from coconut use, forestry residues and urban wastes.2

Biomass is any organic matter that is available on a

renewable or recurring basis, including dedicated energy

crops and trees, agricultural food and feed crops,

agricultural crop wastes, wood wastes, aquatic plants,

animal wastes, municipal wastes and other waste materials,

and is recognized as one of the major potential sources for

energy production.3 It is a renewable energy source that

could significantly improves our environment, economy and

energy security and, hence, is considered as a basic energy

source in many developing countries. When biomass wastes are

converted to energy, they can substantially replace fossil

fuel; reduce the emission of greenhouse gases (GHG), while

closing the carbon cycle loop and providing renewable energy

to people in developing countries, like the Philippines. As

raw materials, biomass wastes are attractive for large-scale

industries and community-level enterprises. At small-scale

levels, biomass is recognized as capable of meeting both

heat and electricity demand most effectively in the form of

combined heat and power, contributing towards international

commitments to minimize environmental damage.4

One of the researchers is a resident of Barangay Gabon,

Polangui, Albay, since he lives near the ricefield he think

of something that could do better and create an innovative

research product out of the resources that are abundant in

their area. The main focus and goal of this study is to know

the level of satisfaction of the respondents on the

effectiveness of the Rice Husk and Paper Charcoal Briquette.

The briquette could be used as an alternative energy source

for household use. These briquettes are made from the

combination of carbonized rice husk and any type of paper.

Biomass briquettes not only have good economic

benefits, but also have good social benefits. Rice husk and
paper charcoal briquettes are known for its abundant raw

material source, low cost, better molding and shape effect

and has a simple production process. Agricultural residues

from harvested crops, using biomass charcoal briquetting

techniques can be converted from piles of wastes into useful

and environment-friendly briquettes. That can also generate

additional income for the people.5

This study charcoal briquettes could be used as

an alternative energy source for household use. These

are made from a combination of organic materials such

as carbonized rice husk, and any type of paper. The

charcoal briquette produced is environment-friendly since it

utilizes waste materials. In comparison with fossil fuels,

the briquettes are easier to produce because it is a

renewable source of energy.

In addition to the goals and objectives, charcoal

briquettes are useful and can be used as an alternative

substitute to expensive cost of kerosene, liquefied

petroleum gas (LPG), and electricity that we often uses as

the material for cooking. In comparison to fossil fuels the

charcoal briquettes produces low percentage of greenhouse

gas emission that also helps to prevent and lessen

pollutions. The charcoal briquette produced is

environmental-friendly since it utilizes waste materials.

Aside from these, the study will also utilize the concept of

conservation of energy in making use of the raw materials

which are the agricultural wastes and school paper residues

namely, rice husk and any type of paper.

Setting of the Study

The researchers selected, Ligao City as the setting of

the study particularly in the Barangay of Barayong. Barayong

is one of the original twenty (200 barangays in the

Cadastral survey of March 4, 1934. It is along the Pedro

Sabido Avenue, a national road connecting the Municipality

of Guinobatan to the Municipality of Polangui.

The name of the barangay is derived from the name of

the trees growing abundantly in the area. The local folks

call these trees “Barayongon”. And later the name was later

shortened to “Barayong”.
 Figure 1.

Map of Barayong, Ligao City, Albay

Statement of the Problem

1. What is the demographic profile of the respondents in

terms of:

a. sex

b. age

c. civil status

2. What are the benefits of the rice husk and paper

charcoal briquette in terms of:

a. effectiveness

b. durability

c. cost-efficiency

3. What is the Satisfactory Level of the respondents on

the Rice Husk and Paper Charcoal Briquette in terms of:

a. effectiveness

b. durability

c. cost-efficiency

4. What are the areas for improvement on the Rice husk and

Paper Charcoal Briquette in terms of:

a. effectiveness

b. durability
 c. cost-efficiency

Assumption of the Study

The study is premised on the following assumptions:

1. The demographic profile of every respondent varies in

terms of sex, age, and civil status.

2. The benefits of the Rice Husk and Paper Charcoal

Briquette differ in terms of its effectiveness,

durability, and cost- efficiency.

3. The satisfactory level of the respondents on the Rice

Husk and Paper charcoal Briquette varies in its

effectiveness, durability, and cost- efficiency.

4. There are areas for improvement on the Rice Husk and

Paper Charcoal Briquettes that varies in effectiveness,

durability and cost- efficiency.

Significance of the Study

The following beneficiaries are ordered based on who

will be benefitting more about the topic. It also serves as

the objective for the following people listed below:

Consumers

This study will help the consumers to have better and

environment-friendly charcoal briquettes that they can use

for cooking. They can also generate income when they tried

to make their own home made briquettes. Especially to those

families who use shattered pieces of tree branch and trunks

for their cooking which contributes to the loss of trees

nowadays; they can use the product instead.

Agriculturist/Farmers

Since this study uses agricultural wastes the farmers

won’t be afraid of the disposal of the wastes but instead

the production of this product will help them to make use of

the residual waste as beneficial briquettes.

Sangguniang Barangay of Barayong and LGU of Ligao City

The study is significant to the Sangguniang Barangay of

Barayong and the Local Government Unit of Ligao because they

can also conduct a livelihood program using the concept of

this research study.

Present Researchers

The researchers will be more aware and will have a

deeper understanding that even those simple residues can be

turned into a useful thing that is budget and environmental

friendly. Also the researcher can generate money by selling

the products to the consumers.

Future Researchers

The idea presented can be used as a source of data in

conducting a new research project. This will also serve as a

reference that will give them relevant data and background

regarding the Rice Husk And Paper Charcoal Briquettes and

the benefits of it.

Scope and Delimitation

This study will develop the use of the rice husk and

paper as an alternative source for generating energy used

for cooking. The product will utilize the concept of

conservation of energy in making use of the raw materials

which are the agricultural waste and residues. The study

shall provide discussions on the use of the product, the

scientific concepts, the cost analysis, the effectiveness in

using of the product, as well as the level of general

acceptability of the said product.

This research study deals and aims to know the

satisfactory level of the residents of Barangay Barayong,

Ligao City on the Rice Husk and Paper Charcoal Briquette. In

addition the study limits its coverage on the residents of

Barangay Barayong, Ligao City only.

 Notes

1
Rice Husk Briquette & Pellet Machine, Anyang Best Complete
Machinery Engineering Co., Ltd.2001, www.briquette-
machine.com/Rice-Husk-Briquette-amp--Pellet-
Machine.html, retrieved on December 01, 2018.

2
Baconguis, S.R. Abandoned biomass resource statistics in
the Philippines. In Proceedings of the 10th National
Convention of Statistics, Manila, Philippines, rerieved
on December 11, 2018.

3
United Nations (UN). Available online:
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=15483&Cr=
development&Cr1, retrieved on December 11, 2018.
4
Laryea-Goldsmith, R.; Oakey, J.; Simms, N.J. Gaseous
emissions during concurrent combustion of biomass and
non-recyclable municipal solid waste. Chem. Cent. J.
2011, 5. [CrossRef], retrieved on December 11, 2018.

5
Rice Husk Briquette & Pellet Machine, Anyang Best Complete
Machinery Engineering Co., Ltd.2001, www.briquette-
machine.com/Rice-Husk-Briquette-amp--Pellet-
Machine.html, retrieved on December 01, 2018.