‘SOILLESS’ VEGETABLE GARDENING, ANYONE?

In Davao City, the Eden Nature Park and Resort is practicing hydroponics. The crops grown are used mainly for its restaurant. Others are being sold in the malls.

The Yannah’s Vegetable Farming, located in Sto. Niño Compound in Matina Crossing, is also growing lettuce, onion, basil and strawberry hydroponically.

One of the main features of hydroponics is fertigation, a combination of fertilization and irrigation. Nutrients and soluble fertilizers like phosphorus, nitrogen, and calcium, are mixed into water. These are fed through dripping hoses.

In some hydroponics systems, a growing medium is used to support the plant roots and allow for more effective water absorption to the root structure.

The US National Park Service cites the following advantages of hydroponics: enhanced plant yields (as the crops are densely spaced together), less water utilization (as much as 10 times less water), locally-grown (allow to grow almost anywhere), and less space (taking up a small amount of space).

“Hydroponics system is becoming popular among farmers because it is a low-cost, highyield method of farming that doesn’t rely on pesticides or fertilizers,” commented Randy Gatuangco, a computer technician who practices hydroponics in his home.

It’s easy to see the advantages of hydroponics. But there are some disadvantages, too. The Seattle-based website, trees.com, shares the following drawbacks:

Expensive to set up: Compared to a traditional garden, a hydroponics system is more expensive to build. Costs range depending upon the type and size of the system, and whether the materials used are prefabricated or built with individual components.

Vulnerable to power outages: Hydroponics systems depend on electricity to power the different components such as grow lights, water pumps, aerators, and fans, among others. As such, a power outage will affect the entire system. Require constant monitoring and maintenance: To maintain a carefully controlled growing environment, all system components need constant vigilance – lights, temperature, and many aspects of the nutrient solution such as pH and electrical conductivity. The nutrient solution also needs to be flushed and replaced regularly, and the system parts cleaned often to prevent build-up and clogging.

Waterborne diseases: As the crops are grown in the water instead of soil, waterborne diseases are considerably higher. With the water circulating continuously through the system, infections can spread quickly

BEST... FROM 2 CHO... FROM 2 ‘SOILLESS’... FROM 9

education aiming to find indigent students who want to study law and medicine.

Meanwhile, Duterte also thanked the doctors present in the said activity for their sacrifices to save lives at the height of the pandemic.

She emphasized that the experience of the nation during the epidemic served as a wake-up call to prioritize public health and create more opportunities for Filipinos, particularly the poor, to obtain medical care.

She added that the Office of the Vice President was motivated to create a medical assistance program and ensure that public funds were going to people in need.

She cited that basic healthcare was unavailable to disadvantaged citizens and members of marginalized communities.

“Coming from one of the biggest cities in the country, natutunan ko na mahalagang magkaroon ng mga satellite offices sa ibat-ibang lugar para masiguro na mabababa yung tulong na kailangan ng ating mga kababayan,” she said.

The Office of the Vice President now has eight satellite offices outside of the National Capital Region. These are located in the cities of Cauayan, Dagupan, Bacolod, Tacloban, Cebu, Davao, Tandag and Zamboanga.

MARCOS... FROM 5

he said.

Marcos said there are many new instruments that encouraged this activity in the last few years such as green bonds and blue bonds and current rules have become very, very clear.

In his talks with big companies, especially mining companies, Marcos said buyers of mineral products insist upon declaration of proof that the products that they are being sold were built using green energy.

“And that I think is going to be an important part in making hopefully the manufacturing of batteries in the Philippines a success,” he said. (PNA) gynecologists),” Dazon added. In private hospitals or clinics, however, a pap smear is conducted to detect cervical cancer.

The CHO intensifies its cervical cancer awareness campaign by holding symposiums in schools and barangays. The health office also provides free human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine for aged nine to 14 years old. But Dazon said parents seem to be hesitant to get their children immunized due to the Dengvaxia vaccine scare.

HPV immunization also dropped since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dazon cited early sexual activity and having multiple sex partners as risk factors for cervical cancer. CIO