Senator Francis Pangilinan welcomed the promising results of the research on the effectiveness of compounds from virgin coconut oil (VCO) against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), especially in lowering viral load.
“Magandang balita itong naging resulta sa bisa ng VCO sa pagsugpo sa COVID. Good news ito para sa ating mga kababayang maysakit at good news din ito para sa ating mga magsasaka ng niyog,” Pangilinan said.
New research funded by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) showed that compounds from coconut oil and VCO decreased coronavirus count by 60 to 90 percent at low viral load, after six months of conducting experiments.
It was also discovered that the compounds in VCO were observed to improve cell survival.
More experiments, however, are needed to determine whether higher concentrations of these compounds will further reduce the replication rate of the virus.
“As one of the top coconut producers in the world, our country has an abundance of resources, and all we have to do now is to harness it.”
“As one of the top coconut producers in the world, our country has an abundance of resources, and all we have to do now is to harness it,” the veteran legislator said.
The seasoned lawmaker said that the production and processing capacity of VCO must be boosted in order to meet the demands of this potential antiviral agent.
“The production and processing capacity of VCO must be boosted in order to meet the demands of this potential antiviral agent.”
“Ngayon ay mas kailangan na ng dagdag suporta sa ating coconut industry lalo na sa ating mga magniniyog para makapag-mass produce tayo ng VCO. Malaking tulong sana kung maisabatas na itong coco levy trust fund bill para mapakinabangan na at madagdagan ang kapasidad natin sa production,” the farmer-senator stressed.
Earlier in October, the Senate approved on third and final reading the Coconut Farmers and Industry Trust Fund, which was principally authored by Pangilinan.
The proposed measure creates a mechanism on the utilization and disposition of the coco levy funds and assets, which were trapped in court disputes for many decades after the fall of the Marcos regime.
In 2018 the Philippines exported a total of 18,405.19 metric tons of VCO worth P63.92 million, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported.
The World Bank also listed the Philippines as the top coconut oil producing country followed by Indonesia, India, Vietnam, and Mexico in April 2020.
He thanked the researchers and scientists behind the study and hopes that further research should continue to provide more evidence and extent of its effectiveness.
“Nagpapasalamat tayo sa lahat ng researchers at siyentipiko sa likod ng pag-aaral na ito, lalo na sa DOST, sa pagsisikap na makahanap ng mga alternatibong lunas para masugpo na natin itong COVID. Umaasa tayong ipagpapatuloy ang mga pagsasaliksik para magkaroon pa ng mas malalim na pag-aaral sa bisa nitong VCO,” Pangilinan said.
As of October 20, the Philippines recorded a total of 360,775 confirmed COVID-19 cases, 6,690 COVID deaths and 310,642 recoveries.