Manila: The government will continue to use nets made from coconut fibre to buttress public structures and prevent soil erosion and flooding, President Benigno Aquino III said.
During a recent palace event on Thursday attended by Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) officials, Aquino said the use of coconut fibre nets of "coconet" will be promoted fully not just because it is good for the environment, but it will also save government money.
"The bottom line is we will save something like 2.5 billion pesos (Dh200 million) of the DPWH's budget of three billion pesos for slope protection," the President declared.
DPWH Secretary Rogelio Singson said instead of using concrete to line creeksides, dykes and embankments; compacted soil and rocks held together by coconets are being utilised.
Singson said that coconet is known for its water absorption abilities and thus aids in the prevention of floods.
"Using coconet is a cost-effective and environmentally-friendly way to preserve public infrastructure," he said.
He explained that asides from absorbing water, geotextiles made from coconut husks reduce soil erosion.
He pointed out that the same technology has been used on slopes lining several areas of the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway in Central Luzon and they "have not had failures with it."
Coconets are also being used to line riverbanks.
Aquino III added that structures utilising coconet are several times cheaper then concrete.
Coconuts are a bountiful resource in the Philippines with the country figuring as the world's leading producer.
At least 67 per cent of local farms grow them. Every part of the coconut can be used productively and is considered by Filipinos as the "tree of life."
Aside from coconut meat - which can also be turned into copra and eventually coconut oil, its trunk can be made into lumber while coconut water has saved countless lives of Filipino soldiers when used as dextrose.
