10 Cardona barangays isolated due to water hyacinths

Cardona town in Rizal, which is located near the Laguna de Bay, has been placed under state of calamity after water hyacinths piled up in portions of the lake, GMA News' Marisol Abdurahman reported on 24 Oras on Wednesday.

All 10 island-barangays of Cardona have been isolated since no boats could sail due to the thick layer of the aquatic plants on the river.

"Kailangan nilang mobility para umuwi, pumunta dito sa bayan. So 'yung transportasyon, hirap sila," Cardona municipal administrator Rosita Ramirez  said.

Transportation problem aside, the livelihood of fishermen was also affected as they were unable to fish for several weeks already.

"Talaga pong gutom na. Gutom dahil ho sa water lily. Ngayon lang na taon na ito naranasan namin 'yan," a fisherman said.

"Ito (pangingisda) lang ang pinagkukunan namin ng pagkain," added another.

Insects who nest on the hyacinths have also become irritants to the residents who have to contend with insect bites.

Due to the state of calamity, the local government has resorted to spraying chemicals into the water to kill the hyacinths despite the potentially harmful effects it could have on the fish.

"Medyo kami ay apprehensive, because those are chemicals," Ramirez said.

The overwhelming amount of hyacinths also left little oxygen for the fish which, consequentially, impedes their growth and cultivation.

The report said the local government of Cardona is mulling over the financial assistance it would give to residents and fishermen affected by the problem. —Margaret Claire Layug/KBK, GMA News