DLSU student designs boat made of plastic bottles

A 19-year-old mechanical engineering student from the De La Salle University (DLSU) has designed a boat made of plastic bottles.

In Athena Imperial's report on "24 Oras," Monday, Project Blue Ilocos founder Adem Inovejas said that he had the idea because he saw how much waste is in the ocean.

According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the Philippines is the third largest contributor of plastic pollution in the whole world. The country produces 0.28 to 0.75 million tons of plastic per year, which enters oceans from coastal areas in Manila Bay.

"Most of these trash are single-use plastics so [in] February, I made it my goal for the month to come up with a project [that will use these trash]," Inovejas said.

He said came across a similar project initiated by non-profit organizations in Indonesia and Africa and started thinking that he also wanted to give it a try in Ilocos.

The boat he designed is made of around 300 one to two-liter used plastic bottles and the frame is made of bamboo. It can accommodate four to six people with an average weight of 65 kilos.

Inovejas plans to have fishermen try the boat to see how he can still improve the design. He also believes that the project will help those in the fishing industry.

"I want to explore making it smaller, making it more hydrodynamic, more pointy so it can flow better on water," he said.

For those who want to create a similar project amid studying, Inovejas said passion and time management is the key.

"Once you're passionate about something, it won't feel tiring," he said.

—Franchesca Viernes/MGP, GMA News