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DPWH promotes ‘green’ engineering


The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has started promoting “green" engineering using environment-friendly indigenous materials and bioengineering technology. Design engineers from the DPWH regional and district engineering offices have started training at the DPWH central office in Manila on the use of such technologies, the DPWH said. “At the end of the three-day training, participant engineers are expected to gain more knowledge on the general characteristics of coconut fiber, distinguish the characteristics and specifications of coconut fiber geotextiles and bio-engineering materials," the DPWH said. "The engineers shall be able to undertake corresponding material field testing, and explain the basic factors to be taken into consideration in designing erosion control system in cut or fill slopes as well as the installation methodologies and field inspection of materials for project," the DPWH added. The participants also receive instruction on:

  • erosion control on road slopes, stream bank and shoreline;
  • the common errors in design and installation of coconut fiber erosion control materials;
  • identifying plants used for different situation in slope protection, and
  • the vetiver grass production and utilization. “Public Works and Highways Secretary Rogelio Singson ordered the conduct of the training to teach DPWH project engineers on the use of coconut fiber/coconets erosion control materials as bio-engineering measures and be able to properly apply this new technology in government on-going and future projects," the DPWH said in a news release on its website. Singson said coco-fiber products can be used as coconut fiber materials or coconets for soil conditioning and erosion control. Earlier, Singson issued Department Order No. 41 directing all regional directors, district engineers and project engineers to give priority to using coconut bio-engineering products/solutions in all DPWH projects. The DPWH said bio-engineering products should be used in slope stabilization, soil conditioning, soil erosion prevention and/or hydroseeding. “Having been tasked by the government as one of three agencies together with the Department of Agriculture and Philippine Coconut Authority to adopt and promote the use of bio-engineering products/technologies, a Certificate of Conditional Approval has been issued by DPWH under Department Order 29 in 2008, accrediting the use of Coconet Bio-Engineering Solutions, in Item 518, in DPWH Projects, from January 2008 until January 2013," the DPWH said. Singson said the use of the coco-fiber products in the engineering industry will be beneficial for the environment and also support the Aquino administration’s poverty alleviation program. The use of coco-fiber products aims to provide employment opportunities to coconut farmers in rural areas. - VVP, GMA News
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