A $1.5 million (P60.9 million) project that will tap renewable energy to provide sustainable livelihood systems for the poor will be operational in 11 communities in Negros Occidental to benefit 1,200 families this year, Jim Orprecio, Winrock International senior technical advisor, said yesterday.

The Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction, through the Asian Development Bank, is initiating the Renewable Energy and Livelihood Development Project for the Poor, or RENEW Project, that began on Aug. 9, 2004 and is expected to be completed and operational in July 31, 2008 to reduce poverty in off grid areas of Negros Occidental, he said.

The executing agency for the project is the Department of Energy, while the implementing agency is Winrock International.

Orprecio said they have also completed the installation of hydraulic ram pump systems in six communities in Sitio Antawan, Barangay Canlandog , Murcia ; Sitio Bagacay, Barangay Inapoy, Kabankalan City ; Sitio Digong, Barangay Mambugsay, Cauayan; Sitio Bara, Barangay Carabalan, Huimamylan City ; Barangay Lumbia, Cauayan; and Sitio Batol, Barangay Caliling, Cauayan.

The ram pumps will provide communities safe drinking water and water for agriculture-based livelihood projects, he said.

Hybrid renewable energy systems that use biomass and solar power for fish drying have also been established in the island communities of Sipaway, San Carlos City , and Molocaboc, Sagay City , he said.

Three micro-hydro systems are also being established in Sitio Balea, Barangay Laga-an, Calatrava; Sitio Vergara and Magtuod in Barangay Bug-ang, Toboso; and Barangay Baclao, Cauayan to boost agri-based livelihoods, he said.

To carry out the projects Orprecio signed for Winrock a Memorandum of Agreement with the Negros Women for Tomorrow Foundation through its executive director, Cecilia del Castillo, and the Negros Occidental provincial government represented by Acting Gov. Isidro Zayco.

A RENEW Micro Credit Fund of $350,000 (P14.2 million) will be established to extend micro-credit assistance among individuals and households for electricity connection and livelihood development, he said.

The MOA states that the NWTF will administer and manage the RENEW Fund.

With the fund, individual and household beneficiaries who are members of community based organizations at the JFPR sub project sites can avail of loans for the installation of household electricity connections, purchase of renewable energy-based mechanical and electrical equipment for livelihood applications and for the operation of livelihood activities, the MOA states.

The Negros Occidental provincial government will have over-all monitoring authority over the RENEW Fund project to ensure that its objectives are attained, the MOA also states.*CPG

back to top