Water Lily Development is a government-initiated project aimed at turning nuisance water lilies in Laguna Bay into value-added products to create sustainable livelihood opportunities to people displaced by the current financial crisis.

     Water Lily Development is a component of Livelihood Emergency Employment Accelerated Program or LEAP, a program formulated by the government to cushion the effect of the global financial crises. LEAP implementation is focused in Laguna province due to its large number of displaced workers.

     The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Education (DepEd) and Local Government Units (LGU) comprise the LEAP council. DTI is the lead government agency that implements LEAP.

     DTI, Regional Operations and Development Group has conducted several trainings all over Laguna to equip beneficiaries with skills to turn water lilies into marketable products like handbag, foot-ware and charcoal.

     DTI has already conducted trainings on proper cleaning, dying and treatment of water lily and water lily weaving in the Laguna towns of Victoria, Pila, Pakil, Los Baños, Calamba, Lumban, Biñan, and Sta. Cruz.

     Through the LEAP program, Sagana, a Laguna based Non Government Organization(NGO), is able to provide livelihood while minimizing the number of water lilies that clog Laguna bay. Sagana employs out of school youth to gather water lilies and displaced workers to process and weave water lilies into handicraft.

     DTI assisted Sagana through the conduct of seminars and trainings while DOST provided technical assistance to ensure that Sagana’s product quality pass industry standards.

     “For now, we are experiencing brisk sales among the local market and we are eyeing the export market since our product quality already passed international standards”, said Sagada Chairman,Cesar Pasco.

     Water lily Development Project involves gathering, processing and marketing of products made from water lilies. The project covers 15 municipalities and 76 lakeside barangays in Laguna.

     The project targets to employ 912 out-of-school youth, fisher-folks and banca operators as water lily gatherers and another 110 displaced workers to process gathered water lilies.

     The government budgeted Php 31.76 million for the project. DTI contributed Php 7.3 million and the remaining Php 24.46 million is contributed by the other government agencies that comprised LEAP.DTI recently allocated Php 5 million to replicate the project in Regions 2,3,5,CAR and NCR.

     DENR Secretary Jose Atienza Jr. said it succinctly: “This collaboration will turn perennial water lilies into useful products. With the help of our partner organizations and their continuing research and development, water lilies will not anymore be a nuisance in the lake anymore but will provide additional source of income. The project will also help in clearing the lake of such clogging materials.”