WATER HYACINTH: TURNING NUISANCE PLANT INTO PROFITABLE PRODUCTS

By HENRYLITO D. TACIO

Photos by Rhoy Cobilla

It is a free-floating perennial aquatic plant native to tropical South America. With broad, thick, glossy, ovate leaves, it may rise above the surface of the water as much as one meter in height. The leaves are 10-20 centimeters across, and float above the water surface. It has long, spongy and bulbous stalks. The feathery, freely hanging roots are purple-black. An erect stalk supports a single spike of 8-15 conspicuously attractive flowers, mostly lavender to pink in color with six petals.

Experts call it water hyacinth but to most Filipinos it is simply known as “water lily.” Water hyacinth (scientific name: Eichornia crassipes) is considered the most productive plant on earth as it yields more than 200 tons of dry matter per hectare per year under normal conditions. On water containing high concentrations of sewage, it yields up to 657 tons of dry matter per hectare.

“The plant is far more productive than the crops that have been carefully cultivated by man under near-ideal conditions of fertilization, irrigation, and pest control,” wrote John Bunton in an article which appeared in Far Eastern Agriculture.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) calls water hyacinth an “invasive alien species” (IAS).

The International Union for Conservation of Nature defines IAS as “plants or animals that are introduced by man, accidentally or intentionally, outside of their natural geographic range into an area where they are not naturally present.”

Water hyacinths have been threatening inland bodies of water. “(They) thrive in water with poor quality,” said an official from the Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau (ERDB), a DENR line agency. Among the country’s water hyacinth-infested waterways are the Liguasan Marsh in Central Mindanao, the Pasig River in Metro Manila, and Laguna de Bay.

Water hyacinth was introduced in the Philippines as an ornamental garden pond plant due to its beauty. But today, it is considered a pest as 10 plants could produce well over 650,000 offspring within eight months.

In Laguna de Bay, for instance, water hyacinth is considered a nuisance. “These plants now cover some 20% of the lake’s surface area,” said the Laguna Lake Development Authority. Their proliferation threatens survival of aquatic species there since these plants block sunlight’s penetration into the water.

That is just one of their ecological impacts. Water hyacinths also reduce biological diversity, impact native submersed plants, and alter immersed plant communities by pushing away and crushing them. They likewise alter animal communities by blocking access to the water and/or eliminating plants the animals depend on for shelter and nesting.

The physical problems brought about by water hyacinth are now common knowledge. Water hyacinth mats clog waterways, making boating, fishing and almost all other water activities impossible. Many large hydropower schemes are suffering from the

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He reminded the commanders and provincial directors to always guide their personnel so they will not go astray.

“We have enough bad eggs in our ranks but I know Davao is different,” he said.

He also cited the survey result conducted by the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) in October last year wherein PRO 11 received high ratings in terms of safety, trust, and respect in the Davao Region.

“We have the highest approval ratings. Alam nyo ba yung MinDA, is doing a survey on us, so tingnan natin if we are faring well,” he said.

He also urged the uniformed personnel to propagate the “Buhay ay ingatan, droga ay ayawan” (BIDA) program.

“Remember also that in Davao Region drugs have no place in Davao that is why the drug war went nationwide with former president Rodrigo Duterte. And it is still the mandate of the PNP chief Police General Azurin. This menace is still the number one enemy of the country right now,” he said.

Meanwhile, Delvo thanked President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for approving the recommendation of Azurin, Special Assistant to the President Antonio Lagdameo Jr., and Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, whom he considered his mentor.

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ty),” she said.

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Agrarian Reform Secretary Conrado Estrella III said the FBS, which provides education to ARBs on how to improve farm production and marketing strategy, is in accordance with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to help improve the livelihood of the farmers. (PNA)

STUDENTS...

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The amount of seed fund that the startups may get, if ever there are indeed investors which is rare for early-stage startups, depends on many factors, including valuation, needs and due diligence,” he said.

According to a briefer, InnoVersity is designed to spur the interest of participants “in entrepreneurship and technopreneurship as a catalyst for social impact, mainstream a culture of innovation in addressing social problems, and promote technopreneurship as an alternative career pathway for the youth.”

Topics will include Psychology of Entrepreneurship, Sustainable Development Goals and Impact Business, Design Thinking,

WILDCATS... FROM 12

pan (silver, 400m hurdles), Andre Cada (bronze, 800m), Fritz Lantaco (silver, 1500m, 5000m, 10,000m), Keay Sismar (silver, 2000m walk), Jake Villaluz, Andrean Cabacang, Dharlie Baguisan and Johnny Meder (gold, 4x100m relay), and Kenneth Alipan, Andrean Cabacang, Ej Sanchez and Johnny Meder (gold, 4x400m relay.

Also in the women’s category are Bernadette Mendiola (silver, 100m, gold, Long Jump & Triple Jump), Angeline Reponte (silver, 200m & bronze, 400m), Cris Garcia (bronze, 200m), Andrea De Guia (silver, 400m), Angelica Villanueva ered mere rental payers and no longer member-consumer owners. Masongsong recalled purported bad experiences in the past wherein the DLPC tried operating in Samal Island, but when they found that they are not raking profits, they turned it over” to the Davao del Norte Electric Cooperative, Nordeco’s former franchise name.

In his video message, Allan Laniba, general manager of Leyte III Electric Cooperative III and Don Orestes Romualdez Electric Cooperative, urged electric cooperative consumers to make a definite stand against DLPC’s expansion into Nordeco’s franchise area.

“We cannot be neutral. We have to make a choice if we are for the people or privatization,” Laniba said.

In a manifesto, CAPECs cited several rejoinders, including respecting Nordeco’s franchise; national government’s priority and equal treatment to Nordeco; the take-over will eventually result to a monopoly of private-for-profit; NEA to continue to adhere in improving the socio-economic status of the people; repeal the EPIRA law; and, Nordeco and 120 other cooperatives in the country be given tenable support and assistance to the fullest extent of the national government. (Chris Panganiban / MindaNews)

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tinguished from legal owners, which are defined as natural or juridicial persons, who, in accordance with the law, owns or has the controlling ownership interest over the corporation, or has the ability of taking relevant decisions within the corporation and imposing those resolutions. The deal will also protect personal and sensitive data by incorporating measures provided under the Data Privacy Act of 2012 and other related circulars issued by the National Privacy Commission, the SEC said.

Design Sprint, Team Work and Dynamics, Technology Design, Business Model Canvas and Development, Market Validation, GoTo-Market Strategy, Finance 101, and Pitching, it said.

It added Upgrade has partnered with the Singapore-based youth-focused startup accelerator Reactor School, Malaysia-based business accelerator E3 Entrepreneurs Hub, and several universities in Davao Region through IDEAS Davao. (Antonio L. Colina IV / MindaNews)

(gold, 400m hurdles & bronze, 800m), Kate Mcdowell (silver, 800m, 1500m & 3000m), Lyka Catubig (gold, 2000m walk, 5000m & 10,000m), Sharoh Marcojos (silver, 2000m walk), Princess Pudy (gold, Javelin Throw), Sophia Bangunan (silver, Discuss Throw & Shot Put), Meah Joy Bagay (bronze, Discuss Throw & Shot Put), Angeline Reponte, Cris Garcia, Bea Burbe and Bernadette Mendiola (gold, 4x100m relay), and Angeline Reponte, Angelica Villanueva, Kate Mcdowell and Andrea De Guia (gold, 4:400m relay). | via Clifford James L. Danduan; (PR) roon ka ug TB but it doesn’t mean nga magka TB dayon ka puwede pud na how strong ang inyong immune system. No need na ihiwalay during the course of treatment ang utensils nila. Sa TB program kung naay isa sa member sa family nga naay TB i-avoid nato nang i-low ang self-esteem sama sa pagpalayo, puwede ka mag hug,” she said.

World Tuberculosis Day is a day to pay attention to people affected by TB. Following the annual celebration of World TB Day every March 24, it aims to inform the people of the methods to prevent this disease and strengthen people to cooperate in the fight against the said disease.

In line with this, DOH 11 will be holding an awareness campaign on March 23, 2023, at SM City Ecoland, Davao City. The CallKaLungs Hotlines will also be launched at the same time to provide accurate answers about TB.

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Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict.

Before receiving the assistance, the 19 beneficiaries underwent additional orientation from the training they had during the three-month Tupad Pangako Program, a deradicalization intervention for their reintegration into mainstream society.

“Jane”, a former medical officer of the communist New People’s Army Guerilla Front 51 - Southern Mindanao Regional Committee, thanked the government for the help given to former rebels like her as she transitions into a normal life with her family.

“This will be of great help for us to restart our lives and become responsible citizens of this country. I know that the process will be hard, but with the help of the government,” she said. (PNA)

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amendments to the Foreign Investments Act (FIA), the Retail Trade Liberalization Act (RTLA), the passage of the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises (CREATE) Act, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) ratification, amendments to the IRR of the Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) law, approval of the NEDA Joint Venture (JV) Guidelines and the administration’s efforts in promoting the Philippines as an investment hub.

“We are confident that the Philippines will be able to attract much-needed capital and technology, sustain its highgrowth trajectory, and generate high-quality jobs enabling rapid poverty reduction in the next six years,” Balisacan said. (PNA)

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ment. The “minor injury” pertains to an apparent groin injury he suffered during the Gin Kings’ Commissioner’s Cup Finals battle against the Bay Area Dragons.

Ginebra coach Tim Cone later said when Tenorio decided to take a break from playing that he aggravated it, defining it as sports hernia, only for the point guard to finally come clean.

Tenorio, however, said he has already gone surgery and is now about to start getting further

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effects of water hyacinth.

Currently, there are several popular control mechanisms for preventing the spread of or eradicating water hyacinth: biological, chemical and physical control. Each has its benefits and drawbacks.

Physical control, using mechanical mowers, dredgers or manual extraction methods, is used widely. The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) has developed a machine that scoops up the plants to put them in good use.

Developed by engineers from the DOST’s Metals Industry Research and Development Center, the machine – called the Water Hyacinth Harvester – can collect and hold up to 25 kilograms of water hyacinth per load. When full, the harvester discharges the collected plants to a dumping site or an assisting barge.

The harvester mechanically removes water hyacinths using a specially-developed conveyor system. “Mechanically removing the plant is the better alternative because chemical methods are hazardous to plants and animals,” according to the research team.

In some parts of the world, several researches have been done to make water hyacinth into a profitable crop instead of a serious pest. In Kunming City, the provincial capital of China’s Yunnan Province, Dr. Zanwin Wang, an associate professor at the School of Development Studies in Yunnan University, thinks of turning the nuisance plant as the waste material for producing biogas.

In Dianchi Lake, water hyacinth grows profusely because of the polluted water. To find out whether biogas is really feasible, Dr. Wang assessed a proposed biogas project designed to use the water hyacinth. The study wanted to find out whether biogas is cost-effective to control the noxious weed, help clean up water pollution, and generate a source of renewable energy.

“Compared with the current water hyacinth control method, the use of water hyacinth to produce biogas has two major advantages,” said Dr. Wang, who headed the study. For one, the biomass of water hyacinth is used rather than disposed of as a waste. For another, the emission of landfill gas is avoided.

In particular, the government can spend less on the control of water hyacinth’s expansion as water hyacinth is used as a raw material of biogas. Currently, the government pays $16.80 per ton for the collection and disposal of water hyacinth. In comparison, it only spends $10.71 per ton for using water hyacinth in producing biogas.

Due to its improved environmental and economic performance in controlling the expansion of water hyacinth, the use of water hyacinth in biogas production “can be a potential option to respond to policies on water pollution control, renewable energy development, and carbon emis- treatment.

“I have completed my surgery last week and will soon undergo treatment for the next few months,” he added.

The 38-year-old playmaker, though, reiterated that he is still not calling it a career, and he hopes that he can still make a return to the PBA very soon.

“I have given not only 17 full years to the PBA, but have dedicated my whole life to basketball. I have committed my body and health for the love of the game. It sion reduction,” the study pointed out.

In the Philippines, some cottage industries have sprouted –thanks to water hyacinth. Some products made out of the nuisance plant include trays, chests, bags, traditional bags, hampers, cabinets, lamp shades of various shapes and sizes and even dining tables and slippers.

A study made by some researchers from the De La Salle Araneta University reported that water hyacinths provide livelihood for hundreds of families in Las Piñas, so much that the waterways of the city have been cleaned up.

“This project shows a lot of creativity of Filipinos because of different products produced from water lilies,” said the Villar Foundation. “The industry has become so successful that our Zapote River is now free of water lilies and fish have begun breeding here again. We are now getting our water lilies from the Laguna de Bay.”

Water hyacinth can also be used to aid the process of water purification either for drinking water or for liquid effluent from sewage systems. In a drinking water treatment plant, water hyacinths have been used as part of the pretreatment purification step. In sewage systems, the root structures of water hyacinth (and other aquatic plants) provide a suitable environment for aerobic bacteria to function. Aerobic bacteria feed on nutrients and produce inorganic compounds which in turn provide food for the plants.

Using the water hyacinth as animal fodder is a traditional practice in many areas of Asia, including China, Bangladesh, Indonesia, India, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Thailand. In Malaysia, fresh water hyacinth is cooked with rice bran and fishmeal and mixed with copra meal as feed for pigs and ducks. However, it is suited to all animals as water hyacinth has high water and mineral content.

In China, it is common practice to mix water hyacinth in a pig swill containing a variety of other vegetable waste matter. The mix is boiled for hours until it is reduced to a mash. Coconut meal, fish meal and groundnut cake plus corn and rice bran, are often added to the mash.

Water hyacinth is also a good feed for fish. For instance, the Chinese grass carp is a fast-growing fish which eats aquatic plants. It grows at a tremendous rate and reaches sizes of up to 32 kilograms. An edible fish with tasty white meat, it eats submerged or floating plants and also bank grasses. The fish can be used for weed control and will eat up to 18-40 percent of its own body weight in a single day.

Another agricultural use of water hyacinth is by turning them into green manure or as compost. As a green manure, it can be either ploughed into the ground or used as mulch. The plant is ideal for composting. After removing the plant from the water, it can be has been my passion and love,” he said.

“Sadly, there are things beyond one’s control. But with my faith, I am lifting everything to God now and I believe there is a higher purpose as I go through this part of my life. I am not yet retiring from the game I love, and with the help of the best doctors in the Philippines and Singapore, I believe I can touch a basketball once more and return stronger,” Tenorio further said. “I will see everyone very, very soon.” (PNA)