Recently, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) conducted a two-and-a-half day training on pine tree oil extraction. There were 13 attendees of the training and they are planning to be future entrepreneurs in the province.
Provincial director Norberto Cobaldez of DOST Mt. Province assisted in the said event. The two lecturers during the training were Dr. Rosalinda Torres and Carmelita Manalo. Both of them came from the Industrial Technology Development Institute (ITDI) under the DOST. According to one of the trainees, Alice Macli-ing, the participants had a hands-on training on oil and distillation extraction using pine needle, pine twigs, and rosemary, and also hands-on operation of the oil extractor. Cobaldez stated that the oil and distillation extract will be brought by the lecturers to ITDI for laboratory study. Macli-ing explained that the oil extracted from the pine needle and branches and the rosemary can be used as scent for soap, perfume, and other products which can be scented. The distillation can be used as mosquito spray. The participants were formed in a group called Mt. Province Pine Oil Livelihood Circle with Telesforo Gut-omen as the coordinator. [via pia.gov.ph]