Drinking Water for 500 Threatened Farmers

In the last report  the solar pumping infrastructure have been installed on site but could not draw enough water due to possible sizing up concerns of the number of solar panels installed   and submersible pump capacity.    Some water have been drawn up but  the required volume is not sufficient enough for the needs of the community.  There was an initial assessment that the number of solar panels are not enough to power the pump more than a 100 feet below.  But this initial configuration was done only by the engineers of the Propeople Engineers and Leaders  (PROPEL).  The call for technical discussions with the local Department of Agriculture  who provided the solar pumping system did not materialize as they have not been responding to our call for a technical meeting 

Given this, the water storage tank has been installed with some piping distribution system already laid down, but sadly to date, it is not functioning yet and no water has been utilized by the community so far.  But we at SIBAT's Engineering team   together with PROPEL  engineers continue to find ways to optimize the system existing and make it functional soonest. 

One of the efforts now is to seek the help of other agencies who has the means and capacities  to resolve the problem.  The National Hydraulics Research Center of the the University of the Philippines Institute of Civil Engineering is one of the organizations to be consulted to lend their expertise to resolve the problem.  The group is currently arranging a technical meeting and also a possible site inspection to determine the cause of the problem.  It is hoped  that the center would be able to support through their expertise  through their own logistic provision as well.    

Also, much as this is a concern of a marginalized and threatened sector of the farming populace, there's also a plan to approach governmental entitities for support.  The legislative body of the government both lower and upper houses  through  their social services funds are targeted to be explored for possible assistance. 

At this point in time, the progress of water resource development for the farming commuity of Lupang Ramos is still far from completion.  It is worth noting though that the community, despited being continually threatened for eviction and pressures from big business to acquire the  productive  agricultural land are firmly resolved to defend their rights and legal claim to the land which was cultivated more than fifty years back by their forebearers

SIBAT and PROPEL who are helping the farmers technically for the development of their water systems for potable and irrigation supply are reiterating their commitments to continue providing the support until the project is completed.   It is for this reason that we continue to appeal for your continued support with the escalating cost of the project's development.  Put in together, your contributions will amount to susbstantially help defray the costs of drilling, additional solar panels if needed installing additional electrical ancilliaries to have the photovoltaic water system function.

Thank you for your continued support and we hope the project and its attendant problems will be resolved soon