Muntinlupa taps Japan tech to depollute Laguna de Bay

IN its new attempt to improve the overall quality of Laguna de Bay, one of the primary sources of freshwater fish in the country that is now facing environmental issues, the City of Muntinlupa is now using a Japanese proven technology.

The city’s Lake Management Office (LMO), in partnership with Rotary Club of Muntinlupa City Central and Rotaract Club of Alabang Bagong Paraiso, launched “Project Adbokashi” at the Muntinlupa City Fish Hatchery in Bayanan Baywalk on January 22.

It is a partner initiative to enhance bodies of water in the locality and across the country.

Mayor Ruffy Biazon welcomed the collaborative work toward improving water quality in Laguna de Bay for the long-term, in relation to his administration’s 7K Agenda for the environment.

Population pressure and industrialization, invasive species and overfishing are of concern for the lake, impacting its contribution to both local and national economies.

More than 1,000 bokashi balls were released into the lake. The activity was part of a two-year experiment to make the water quality improve and to thwart the effects of rapid urbanization around the lake.

The release of bokashi into Laguna de Bay will be done at least every six months with periodic water quality testing to be conducted by the LMO.

Made of organic materials such as garden soil, effective microorganisms, molasses and rice hulls, the bokashi balls break down toxins and bad bacteria in water.

Dubbed locally as “mabuhay balls,” bokashi were also proven in Japan to “deodorize” bodies of water and reduce siltation.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources recently used them to improve the water quality in Boracay’s wetlands as part of the rehabilitation of its beaches.

In 2008, the Asian National Institute in Angono, Rizal, introduced the organic deodorizer balls to the country.

Prior to their recent release into Laguna de Bay, an initial batch counting at 6,000 was first used in Muntinlupa in 2019 in Jamboree Lake in Poblacion, which is known as the smallest natural lake in the country.