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DOST iLAWA 2
IMAGE | The iLawà team with fisherfolks in Masbate/DOST handout

MANILA – Ilang engineers ng Technological Institute of the Philippines (TIP) ang nagtulong-tulong sa pag-develop ng battery na makakatulong sa hanapbuhay ng mga mangingisda.

Tinawag na “iLAWA” ang proyekto, na bunga ng research na pinangunahan ni Dr. Drandreb Earl Juanico, at mga engineers na sina Niel Jon Carl Aguel, Ana Luz Callao, Paul Vincent Nonat, at Rowel Facunla.

Ayon sa Department of Science and Technology (DOST), gawa sa recycled aluminum ang baterya, na may kakayahang umilaw at linisin ang “polluted” o maduming tubig.

“The researchers explained that the battery gets its power from the electrolytes in the water due to the presence of electric charges,” paliwanag ng ahensya.

“The battery then cleans the water by removing its phosphate content. Phospates in lake waters come from agricultural and residential runoffs, dissipating as the cell operates in the water,” dagdag ng DOST.

Noong 2016 nang unang mabuo ng researchers ang konsepto. Tugon daw sana ito sa problema sa kuryente ng Talim Island, na nasa gitna ng Laguna Lake.

Nakatanggap ng pondo mula sa TECHNICOM Program ng DOST ang development, field testing, at market validation ng prototype ng pollution-powered battery lights.

“The team was able to optimize the prototype with its cell volume and mass reduced by 90% and 73%, respectively, while increasing power output by 89%. These technical improvements led to greater potential uses that require higher electrical power levels.”

DOST iLAWA 3
IMAGE | Photos from the market testing of the iLawà in Masbate/DOST handout

Ang Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technoogy Research and Development (DOST-PCIEERD) ang nangasiwa sa proyekto ng TIP engineers.

Sa ngayon, ilang grupo at kooperatiba, tulad ng Federation ng Mangingisda ng Bayan ng Binangonan, ang nakipag-partner sa researchers para mas maraming komunidad ang makinabang sa imbensyon.

Ayon sa Science department, makakabuti sa kalidad ng tubig ang pagpapakawala ng phosphates sa pamamagitan ng chemical reaction sa baterya.

Asahan din daw na mababawasan na ang mga insidente ng fish kill sa lawa, at bubuti ang hanapbuhay ng mga mangingisda.

“The conscious efforts of TIP to boost the livelihood of Filipino fisherfolks by developing a durable, cost-effective innovation, not only will TIP’s technology produce clean energy but also improve lake environments,” ani Dr. Enrico Paringit, Executive Director ng DOST-PCIEERD.