The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) is leading the way in sustainable waste management and flood control with its innovations at the Tapayan Pumping Station. This specialized facility transforms water hyacinths, a major contributor to waterway obstruction and flooding, into valuable resources such as charcoal briquettes and lilipots for gardening and community use.
Water hyacinths, with their rapid growth and tendency to clog waterways, pose a significant threat to Metro Manila's drainage systems. The Tapayan River, where one of the MMDA’s Pumping Stations is located, is heavily covered by these invasive plants. "The abundance of water hyacinths severely hinders water flow and impacts the efficiency of our pumping stations," explained Engineer John Chrisler Lucero from MMDA Metro Manila Flood Management Project (MMFMP) - Project Management Office (PMO). "Removing water hyacinths is crucial for flood mitigation. As they habitually form thick mats that impede water flow, they tend to reduce the capacity of waterways and increase the likelihood of overflows and flooding. This facility's efforts directly address this problem. By processing these plants at the Tapayan facility, we do not only alleviate these issues but also contribute to cleaner waterways and a more sustainable environment."
