A high school student in Calasiao, Pangasinan has developed a fire-resistant wood paint using coconut husk, aiming to help reduce fire damage in homes during extreme heat conditions.

Josef Minard Balverde said his innovation was inspired by the increasing number of fire incidents, especially in residential areas during the dry season.

“Ang purpose ko po is para po siyang film, ipinintura sa houses, para pag may certain cases na may apoy, puwede po siyang mag last longer para hindi agad maapula iyong bahay at puwedeng ma-response agad ng mga tao iyong pag-sunog ng bahay,” Balverde said.

The paint is made from coconut husk combined with sodium borate, calcium carbonate and vermiculite, materials he said can help slow down the spread of fire. He added that it can also be applied to ceilings to reduce heat inside homes, as coconut husk has heat-resistant properties.

Aside from the paint, Balverde also created a soap using coconut husk and oregano, which he said has antimicrobial benefits.

“Coconut husk liquid smoked extract po siya. Dahil meron po siyang anti-microbial properties na puwedeng makatulong makapatay ng germs. Iyong oregano naman po, natural po, meron siyang properties na puwedeng makapatay ng microbes. Pinag-combine ko lang silang dalawa para mas effective siyang pumatay ng germs,” he said.

Agriculture scientist Gerald Suriaga noted that coconut husk extracts have existing uses in medicine and cosmetics.

“Mokusako ay ginagamit siya for medicine, specially in cosmetics. So may mga pag-aaral po na may isang taga CAR, Benguet na ginagamit po nila as facial treatment,” Suriaga said.

Balverde said he hopes his innovations can provide practical and low-cost solutions for households, especially in fire prevention and personal care.