DPWH taps bio-engineering to solve flooding in Metro Manila

Instead of using concrete structures, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is using "coco-net coir fiber" in rehabilitating esteros and waterways in Metro Manila. The DPWH said its South Manila District Engineering Office is using coco fiber and coco-nets from coconut husks for soil erosion control, slope stabilization, embankment and shore protection. In a news release, DPWH Secretary Rogelio Singson said coco-net is suitable for lining creeksides because of its water absorption abilities, which can help prevent floods. The DPWH said the Estero de Paco Rehabilitation Project, stretching from Pedro Gil to Pasig River, is part of the government’s flood prevention activities. The DPWH said President Benigno Aquino III had lauded the DPWH’s use of the highly indigenous Philippine geotextile made from discarded coconut husks resulted in "substantial government savings on budget for slope protection." “The technology, cheaper to utilize than the concrete, is being used to strengthen and repair sloppy areas prone to landslides," the DPWH noted. It added that while this bio-engineering technology can address soil erosion due to the Philippines’ mountainous topography, the technology also maintains the integrity of infrastructure projects, such as roads and bridges. - VVP, GMA News