Residents in Masbate collect, drink dripping water from exposed tree root

A vlogger from Esperanza, Masbate discovered dripping water from a tree's root, which doesn't seem to stop.

According to Kuya Kim's report on "24 Oras," Tuesday, Babyjun Adigue and his family were digging the ground for a house that they will build.

"May napansin po si papa na tumutulo 'yung ugat. Patak-patak lang po," Babyjun said.

"Nineteen days, tuloy-tuloy po 'yung patak-patak niya," he added.

Even though they were not sure which plant's root the dripping water was coming from, some residents collected and drank it.

"Unang patak po niya, malinaw po siya pero pag within five hours, mag-iiba po 'yung kulay parang suka. Sabi daw matamis-tamis daw. Wala naman pong nararamdaman," Babyjun said.

According to a botanist, the dripping water possibly comes from the root of the plant itself.

"Meron po tayong tinatawag na storage roots. Maaaring 'yung roots niya po ay nagso-store ng water, so maaaring nadamage po 'yung root at lumabas po yung water," Florence Roy Salvaña said.

But it is also possible that the water came from the soil.

"Drip lang po 'yung water doon sa soil, na-excavate 'yung soil, and then na-expose 'yung roots," the botanist said. "Maaaring meron po siyang mixture ng ions, minerals, sugars, or starch, kaya sinabi siguro nila na manamis-namis."

He then reminded that the dripping water is still not considered safe for drinking.

"Hindi po natin masasabi na safe siya as of now because it needs further tests," he said.

—Carby Basina/MGP, GMA Integrated News