Another agrarian reform
beneficiary organization (ARBO), that is, Cabayabasan Farmers Credit
Cooperative in the Nueva Segovia Agrarian Reform Community in Lallo, Cagayan
province is now enjoying the benefits of the Department of Agrarian Reform’s CPWASH
project.
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| Methane
is an important natural gas commonly used for fuel and electricity generation. |
A CPWASH is a potable water project implemented by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) which stands for Community-Managed
Potable Water Supply and Hygiene project. It is a regular project being undertaken
by DAR to install low-cost water supply technology and sanitation systems that provides
safe, clean and potable water for the agrarian reform beneficiary households in
Agrarian Reform Communities (ARCs).
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| The first chamber of the bio-gas digester. |
A CPWASH project is composed of
four sub-projects, that is: (1) the rain water collector to hoard and store
rainwater to be recycled before it reaches the aquifer; (2) the bio-sand filter
to remove pathogens and suspended particles and reduce discoloration, odor and
unpleasant taste; (3) the iron removal filter, to filter iron from the water to eliminate
staining, the unpleasant smell and taste of the water; and (4) the bio-gas
digester to convert organic waste into usable fuel. Funds for the projects are
sourced from DAR and some counterpart from the LGU and the proponent
cooperative/ARBO.
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| The second chamber of the bio-gas digester under construction. |
Unlimited bio-gas
fuel for cooking is now available for the beneficiaries through the methane
from the bio-gas digester. The raw materials for methane production comes from
the animal waste of swine raised by the ARBs. As such, significantly large
costs for cooking fuel is saved by ARBs. The ARB households have also stopped
the traditional use of firewood as fuel for cooking in the community. The output from the digester
(digested waste) can also be used as a high quality organic liquid fertilizer
which can be sold for farmers at a much lower price than commercial
fertilizers.
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| The second chamber being attached to the first chamber bio-gas digester which is later cemented. |
Farmers who have completed the CPWASH hands-on training
will also be given Certificates of Training as Para-Engineers and can be
summoned to build other CPWASH facility on other sites, which is another
business opportunity for them or their cooperatives.
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| The completed and installed operational bio-gas digester already producing methane gas fuel. |
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| Installing the water filters. Photos courtesy of Engr. Domingo Garello |
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| Inspecting the Bio-gas facility, now the source of unlimited earth-friendly fuel gas for cooking. |
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| Trying out the improvised gas burner. |
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| Turn-over by DARPO Cagayan to LGU Lallo of Kabayabas CPWASH Project. |
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| Inspecting the potable water after passing through the Iron Removal Filter. |
Photos courtesy of: Engr. Domingo Garello, Ms. Emely Salvatierra and Ms. Issandra Miguel
