An Eco-kalans, or earthen stoves with environment friendly design, were given to 146 households in Barangay Agan-an, Sibulan, Negros Oriental recently.

The  Eco-Kalan  is  a project  of the Rotary Club of  Sidney, B.C., Canada, in cooperation  with  the Rotary  Club of  Dumaguete  South, and  the  Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office.

They  were distributed by inventor Becky Arietta-Vermeer, who said the  stove is  100 percent environment  and  economically friendly, as it is cheaper than Liquefied petroleum Gas.

She added that they have also distributed  free  Eco-Kalan  stoves to  Gawad Kalinga and Habitat for  Humanity  project  sites in Dumaguete  City.

Senior Insp. Rosalinda Abellon  said project recipients  in Sibulan are squatters in Sitio  San Miguel, and those  living  near  the  runway  and near Bouffard  Subdivision. 

As confirmed by the PNP Community program, these residents are indigents based on their living conditions, Abellon said.

Police provincial director,  Senior Supt. Melvin Buenafe, lauded the Rotary Club  and  Vermeer for the project, saying that the  implementation of  programs  for poor  residents   near  the  PNP  Provincial  Command  will help  develop  a closer   relationship  between the police and  the  community. 

Rotary  Club of  Dumaguete  South  president, Rafael  Besas, said they will also implement a feeding program during  the  opening of  classes  in June.

Meanwhile, the first batch  in the “Gunting  at Suklay Para  sa  Kinabukasan” program for  inmates will graduate tomorrow, at a program to be sponsored  by  club and  the  police.

A  total  of  42  detainees from  the Bureau of  Jail  Management and  Penology and the Negros Oriental Rehabilitation and Detention Center will receive  a complete set of  haircut materials.

Abellon said the program  will give inmates an alternative livelihood after their  detention.*MA

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