Mariveles jail inmates start aquaponics, hydroponics projects

In a bid to assist Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDLs) in learning aquaponics and hydroponics, the AboitizPower private limited partnerships GMEC and GNPD donated six tote bins and wood pallets to the Mariveles Municipal Jail.

The turnover of the six tote bins and wood pallets was conducted on October 22, 2025, through CSR Program Manager Jose B. Chavez. These items will be used in the upcoming aquaponics hito farming and hydroponic lettuce production projects.

According to Mariveles Municipal Jail Warden JSINSP Abraham Lazaro, these initiatives will serve as additional livelihood programs for PDLs, promoting self-sufficiency, productivity, and sustainable rehabilitation within the facility.

Lazaro said that the Mariveles Municipal Jail continues to strengthen partnerships with external stakeholders to provide meaningful opportunities for skills development and reformation among PDLs.

Aquaponics is a sustainable food production system that combines aquaculture (raising aquatic animals) and hydroponics (growing plants without soil).

It creates a symbiotic relationship where fish waste provides nutrients for plants, and the plants filter the water for the fish in a recirculating system. This method uses significantly less water and eliminates the need for chemical fertilizers.

Hydroponics is a method of growing plants without soil, using water-based mineral nutrient solutions to deliver nutrients directly to the roots. This soilless technique can be done indoors or outdoors and uses less water than traditional gardening, resulting in faster growth and higher yields.

It involves a container, water, a light source, a way to anchor the plant, and a way to provide the nutrient solution, often with the help of an inert medium such as perlite or coco coir.