Negros NGO Bags DoE ‘Green Energy-Award’
The Bacolod-based
Alternative Indigenous Development Foundation Inc. (AIDFI) is the only
non-government organization (NGO) among the five Philippine corporations
which bagged the 1st Green E-Award given by the Department of
Energy (DoE) and the Energy Council of the Philippines-Center of
Excellence for Sustainable Energy in Southeast Asia (ECP-CESE).
BY KARL G. OMBION
Bulatlat
BACOLOD
CITY – The Bacolod-based Alternative Indigenous Development Foundation
Inc. (AIDFI) is the only non-government organization (NGO) among the five
Philippine corporations which bagged the 1st Green E-Award
given by the Department of Energy (DoE) and the Energy Council of the
Philippines-Center of Excellence for Sustainable Energy in Southeast Asia
(ECP-CESE).
AIDFI personnel and
local folk install a set of ram pumps. PHOTO COURTESY OF AIDFI |
The Green
E-Awards Program of the DoE and the ECP-CESE was conceptualized to serve
as a mechanism that gives recognition to both project developers and end
users for their active participation in successful renewable energy (RE)
projects. Renewable Energy projects that receive the award would serve as
inspiration or example for others to emulate.
The CESE was
established as a partnership between the World Energy Council (WEC) and
the
United Kingdom’s
Department of Trade and Industry with the support of the Philippines’ DoE
and ECP.
|
One of the
prime movers of AIDFI, Auke Idzenga, a Dutch engineer who has lived in
Negros rural communities and has been working with sugar workers since the
1970s, expressed utmost appreciation for the award given to the NGO.
“We are
really surprised and elated by the award; it just goes to show that our
efforts to develop and promote renewal energy projects have captured the
appreciation and support of the government,” Idzenga said.
AIDFI has
for years now been engaged in research, fabrication and installation of
hydraulic ram pump, bush pump, biogas, rice hull, solar power equipments
and processing plant for lemon grass, among others. Local materials are
used for these projects.
Its banner
project, the hydraulic ram pump has already benefited several rural
communities in
Negros
and other provinces in the country. The project has been used by AIDFI to
the address the problems of upland communities in fetching water intended
for drinking, households and agricultural uses, and in displacing harmful
greenhouse gases common in petro-chemical fueled agricultural equipments
which would have otherwise been emitted from a typical fossil-fueled
generating plant.
AIDFI has
been pursuing community development using indigenous technologies as its
core project strategy.
The other
awardees were Pasig Agricultural Development and Industrial Supply
Corporation for innovativeness, Wellisa Farms for non-power application,
Gaya Lim Farm Inc, for RE off-grid electricity generation, and the
Northwind Power Development Corp for RE on-grid electricity generation.
The awardees
were judged on the basis of environmental impact, innovativeness,
replicability, socio-economic impact and sustainability of their projects.
DoE
Secretary Raphael Lotilla said the 1st Green E-Award Program is
a testament to the enormous potential of renewable energy as a viable
solution to the twin problems of oil price volatility and global warming.
He also said
that the Philippines remains committed to achieving energy security and a
cleaner environment by harnessing the indigenous and renewable energy
resources it has been so richly endowed with. Bulatlat
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