Manila, Philippines – Technology makes life easier, better, and more comfortable. Our country’s problem on floating solid wastes remains a major challenge for many years now, and various imported technologies have been tried to address this challenge.
This June, in the celebration of the Philippine Environment Month, the Department of Science and Technology - Metals Industry Research and Development Center (DOST-MIRDC) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) launched the Floating Solid Waste Collector System at the Pasig River Esplanade.
“This Floating Solid Waste Collector System will breathe life and hope towards a greener future," said Manila Mayor Maria Sheila Lacuna-Pangan on her hopes for a cleaner and greener environment. "The City of Manila, through the Department of Public Services whose mandate is ecological solid waste management and environment sanitation, is committed to promoting and upholding initiatives and interventions to nurture our environment."
The Floating Solid Waste Collector System represents a significant milestone in efforts to combat the challenges posed by solid waste and invasive water hyacinths in our rivers. DOST Secretary Renato Solidum highlighted its broader benefits during his speech, "this one [floating solid waste collector system] supports the quality of life by making our environment better, and it can also be a source of livelihood and improve the productivity of fishermen or open new livelihood for those that can weave and use the water hyacinths.”
This innovative system is poised to address the persistent issues of solid waste and the overpopulation of water hyacinths in Metro Manila's waterways.
It features three essential components: a water hyacinth harvester, a dedicated trash collector, and a power barge for water hyacinth management. These components work synergistically to prevent flooding caused by clogged waterways, ensuring cleaner and more navigable bodies of water.
The launch of this technology underscores the government's collaborative efforts in promoting sustainable environmental practices and innovative technological solutions. By integrating science and technology with environmental stewardship, the DOST and DENR are paving the way for a cleaner, more resilient Metro Manila.
Project leader, Engr. Rodnel O. Tamayo, said that the prototype developed by the DOST-MIRDC will be subjected to performance testing in Cardona, Rizal. With optimism, the DOST and the DENR are certain that the system will be turned over to the DENR by the end of the year. Representatives from other local government units (LGUs) in the Greater Manila area were also present at the event, hoping that more LGUs would adopt this technology.
by Ella Vanesa L. Lopez
No comments:
Post a Comment