Water hyacinths back in Rio Grande

COTABATO CITY, Philippines  – Water hyacinths from the 220,000-hectare Liguasan Marsh have again “invaded” the Rio Grande de Mindanao, whose downstream channel here was blocked by about 300 tons of the aquatic plants, inundating several villages, two months ago.

Local officials have urged the Department of Public Works and Highways to immediately deploy workers to remove the water hyacinths to prevent them from accumulating, amid heavy rains in the past five days.