Ilonggo inventor builds 'unsinkable' rescue boat
Mariano Griņo (with hat) test drives his
invention at the Jalaur River in Iloilo.
For years, Mariano Griño toyed with the idea of building an unsinkable rescue boat that could continue floating even if damaged.
Years back, an inflatable rubber boat of the Regional Community Defense Center, where he is a reservist, was damaged and became unusable after it was punctured.
Griño, 61, thought that a rescue boat should be made more sturdy and should withstand collisions and damages during rescue operations.
But the plan remained in the drawing board until June this year when typhoon "Frank" triggered massive flooding in Iloilo City and neighboring towns.
Calls for rescue boats were repeatedly aired after residents fleeing rising waters climbed on trees and on rooftops.
While Griño's residence in Gran Plains Subdivision in Jaro District was spared, his family had to lend their inflatable rubber boat to rescue trapped residents in neighboring subdivisions. The boat was, however, damaged.
Griño shared the concept with Antique Gov. Salvacion Zaldivar-Perez, a family friend, who encouraged him to proceed with the project. Antique was also hit by flooding and have also experienced rescue operations on trapped residents.
He started on the construction and assembly early August at the backyard of his house using imported and locally-made materials. The boat was completed a month and half later and was successfully tested the at the Jalaur River in Iloilo last month.
Measuring 14 feet in length, six feet in width and three feet in height, the boat's body is filled with lightweight polystyrene (styrofoam) insulated in marine epoxy composite. Its body frame is made of plywood and has skid plate made of aluminum as a protection from hard and pointed objects in maneuvering over rooftops or fences.
The boat can float in seven to eight inches of water and can accommodate 12 people.
"It can still float and maneuver even if punctured," said Mariano in a telephone interview from the United States where he is on a vacation with his family.
The boat is provided with a trailer for easy transport to disaster areas. It is also equipped with a 40-horse power outboard engine, four paddles, a grappling hook/anchor to maintain stability while picking up victims, and a throwable life saver.
The province of Antique has already expressed interest to buy several boats from Griño. The Iloilo City government is also studying the project.
Griño said he plans to sell a unit with trailer and other accessories at P380,000 (without engine) and at P580,000 with a 40-hp outboard engine.
"This is still cheaper than most inflatable rubber boats," he said. An inflatable rubber boat costs around P700,000.
The invention is the latest among Griño's innovations.
He had also designed and constructed a boat made of composite material from rice husks and other indigenous materials.
A retired division chief at the National Economic Development Authority regional office, Griño is no engineer or scientist.
He graduated from a Bachelor of Arts degree at University of the Philippines in Diliman where he also obtained a masters degree on urban and regional planning.
But he was always interested in fixing and inventing things.
"I have always liked to work with my hands," said Griño.
He already knows how to operate a wielding machine when he was in high school. During that time, he made his first invention.
He designed and assembled a double-ended mechanical can opener made from scrapped materials that was used to quickly open cans where cacao seedlings where planted. The seedlings was for an uncle's plantation in Negros Occidental.
He also designed a brick-making machine that made the production faster and the products more durable.
Aside from reading and researching on his concepts, he also took special courses in trade schools including a workshop on ceramics and course on machine shops.
He spends most of his free time at his backyard, trying out things and testing materials and using his own money to invest in buying materials for his projects.
"I don't have other pastimes," he said.
He welcomed his retirement four years ago because he could devote more time for his projects.
"I would like to spend the rest of my remaining years trying to help solve simple problems of a third world country like the Philippines through simple inventions," he said
In the US, he is researching ways to develop renewable sources of energy like solar and hyrdopower.
Already, he is planning to build an unsinkable rescue raft similar to the boat but cheaper and intended for poorer communities.
But his dream boat is an amphibious vehicle.
"This will be the truly unsinkable boat," he said.