Cong. Albee Benitez opening the faucet for the water to flow from the reservoir tank. Witnessing the ceremonial launch are TUPV Director Eric Malooy (right), and DOST Director Rowen Gelonga, Mayor Andrew Montelibano (left), with barangay and purok officials, and beneficiaries.

Synergy and convergence has made possible the application of new technology to address the community’s basic need, as Third District Representative ALFREDO BENITEZ brought together the Department of Science and Technology, Technological University of the Philippines in the Visayas , and the Western Visayas Consortium for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development.

Eleven households (11) in Sitio Mirasol, Barangay Caliban in the municipality of Murcia now have access to a most vital resource, water, with the installation of the solar-powered water system in their community, after the pilot implementation was started in February this year.

Last August 10, 2018 the turn-over of the Small Capacity Solar PV Pumping System and Model Unit was formalized, with the presence of Congressman Benitez, Murcia Mayor Andrew Montelibano, DOST Regional Director (Region VI) Rowen Gelonga, TUPV Campus Director Eric Malooy, Caliban Punong Barangay Antonio Luis Gonzaga and Purok President Rizalde Melchor.

Turn-Over of the Water System in Caliban, Murcia. (left to right) Purok President Rizalde Melchor, Punong Barangay Antonio Luis Gonzaga, Mayor Andrew Montelibano, Cong. Albee, DOST Director Rowen Gelonga, TUPV Director Eric Malooy, and Engr. Ace Zander Antonio.

Cong. Benitez, in his message, urges community residents to take care of the project by cooperating and coordinating closely to safeguard the facility, as he looks at ways and means to replicate the project in similar areas where water is a scarce resource. He cites the use of new technology for ASENSO and lauds the support of agencies involved as well as the local government and the barangay leaders.

Also cited was the assistance of a non-government entity, the Aid Foundation, Inc. represented by its head Auke Idzenga, that installed a water filter to ensure that the water is potable.

Twenty-five (25) more households in the surrounding have also access to the water system. The beneficiaries are happy that they no longer have to go down a very steep slope , that is slippery when it rains, to reach the river, some 55 meters away from most houses.

In the report submitted by TUPV Research Head Engineer Ace Zander Antonio, the solar panel installed has a capacity of 300 watts that powers the submersible pump installed in the nearby river to pump up 1,000 liters per hour to a water reservoir. The technology and fund source is the DOST Region VI, the study made by the consortium, and the TUPV implemented the project. The office of Cong. Benitez, both the HOR and in the District, provided the coordination assistance and linkaging to ensure the implementation flow.*