AIDFI and DOST Region VI signed a Memorandum of Agreement in December 2021 for the "Installation of Ram Pump Water Systems and Provision of Water Filters to CEST Communities in Western Visayas". DOST provided a grant through its Grants-in-Aid (GIA) Program, one of the strategic programs under the National Science and Technology Plan (National S&T Plan). The GIA program aims to harness the country's scientific and technological capabilities to spur and attain sustainable economic growth and development.
The funding provided would be for the installation of a ram pump water system in the province of Negros Occidental, Aklan, Capiz, and Guimaras. Out of the four (4) CEST areas, only Negros Occidental, Aklan, and Guimaras had sources for a ram pump installation.
So. Mico, Brgy. Inolingan, Moises Padilla, Negros Occidental
Mico is located in the mountainous area of the municipality of Moise Padilla. According to the elders in the village, the name was derived from two sitios: Minuro and Coyaoyao. This was mainly because only a few people lived in these communities. The residents rely on sugarcane farming, charcoal making, and backyard gardening for their survival. The Department of Agriculture provided the community with livelihood projects such as poultry, carabao for selected farmers, and training on organic farming.
The water source is located 1.2 kilometers from the community center. Although a gravity line traverses their community, it is unreliable and unsafe to drink and dry up during the summer season.
According to the community, the ram pump project is the very first successful water project in the history of Sitio Mico. The project will be managed Miniro Coyaoyao Integrated Farmers Association (MICOIFA), headed by its chairperson Mr. Romeo Hinoo. The legal documents and registration were facilitated on March 23, 2022, by Alan Alpay and Deit Mar Bernadez, both Community Development Coordinators at AIDFI.
The installation began on June 13, 2022, with our Technical Services Personnel Sherwin Pillon and Emmanuel Alarcon leading the local laborers from the project. The project was completed on July 22, 2022, in 35 days.
On August 10, Ellin Grace Andana, Rusell Renz Garcia, and Clint Jan Palabrica from DOST - Province of Negros Occidental, Engr. Tom Bonoy and Rey John Cantero from LGU of Moises Padilla joined the AIDFI team in the final inspection of the project.
The project was officially conveyed to MICOIFA on September 23. Present during the conveyance ceremony was Rusell Renz Garcia from DOST - Negros Occidental Province, Hon. Adrian Villaflor, the vice-mayor of Moises Padilla, together with Ann Gayona, the Municipal Agriclture Officer, and our Chief Executive Officer, Auke Idzenga. During the conveyance, 36 water filters were distributed to the households.
Brgy. Tinadtaran, Buenavista, Guimaras
Tinadtaran is located 8 kilometers from Buenavista and is accessible by any means of transport, but most of the time, tricycles or habal-habal traverse the area. It is agricultural where the Tinadtaran Piña Agsayanayan San Roque Agrarian Reform Cooperative (TPAS-ARC) is located and is quite known for its calamansi products.
The water source identified was from the creek overflow at the boundary of the two (2) barangays: Tinadtaran and Agasayan. The source is located 450 meters away from the service area for irrigation.
Social preparation of the project began on March 7 by Community Development Coordinator Sheila Tabujara. On September 6 implementation of the project went underway, and installation was done by Technical Services Personnel, Sherwin Pillon and Emmanuel Alarcon. Installation was completed on October 6, a 1 unit 2" ram pump delivers 5,621 liters per day to a 15 cubic meter ferrocement reservoir. Our Chief Operating Officer, Che Idzenga, and Technical Services Coordinator, Andre Gallego, conducted final inspection on October 7.
The project was conveyed to the Cooperative headed by its chairperson Emcy Villanueva on November 29, it will benefit 54 or 214 people who rely on the production of calamansi and other crops for their livelihood. Our President, Engr. Christopher Taclobos, together with our Operations Manager, Cherie Gomez attended the ceremony on behalf of AIDFI. Joining them during the ceremony was DOST - Guimaras Provincial Director Allen Daryl Asuelo and Hon. Samuel Gumarin, the municipal mayor of Buenavista.
Brgy. Manika, Libacao, Aklan
Manika is one of the 24 barangays of the municipality of Libacao located in the upper portion of the heart of Panay island, bounded by the municipalities of the provinces of Capiz and Iloilo. The barangay is composed of the Akeanon Bukidnon tribe and depends on abaca as one of their main sources of income. The climate is somewhat comparable to Baguio City and is eyed to be a new tourism destination of the municipality.
The social preparation of the project was started on February 16, 2022. This was done by our Community Development Coordinator, Sheila Tabujara who facilitated the legalities of the project and registration of the Manika Water Consumers and Vegetable Farmers Association (MAWCOVFA), which was followed by training of officers on July 23. There were some delays relating to the source, but this was later resolved with the help of the DOST - Aklan Province and LGU of Libacao.
The materials were delivered on September 12, and the project implementation was completed on October 26. Still, the team headed by Technical Services Personnel Jose Glavez had to return on November 25 to repair damaged structures at the source of typhoon Paeng. The project was finally completed on December 10 and is set to be conveyed in the first quarter of 2023.
The 1 unit 1" ram pump water system pumps up 1,627 liters per day to a 10 cubic meter ferrocement reservoir located 111 meters above the source, and that distributes the water to 5 communal faucets over a 1.7 kilometers service area. The water is used for drinking purposes for 28 households; a police station and an army camp are in the vicinity.