Microhydro Power for Maducayan Tribe-Philippines

The Maducayan Microhydro project team is composed of Electrical Engr. Carlo Fabia, Mechanical Engr. Diana Benato, Community Organize & Chemical Engineer Myrna Herisano, and MHP Technician Generoso Elveña.   

Major accomplishments thus far were on the technical planning and implementation of the Maducayan micro-hydro project.  Specifically the following activities have been accomplished:

• Design finalization:  This includes resurvey of existing MHP, redrawing and recalculation of civil work structures that need repair or modification among them were [1] silt basin which will now serve as the new forebay; and [2] penstock and powerhouse relocation (considering and optimizing flow and head requirement for the MHP) to avoid massive and critical soil erosion at the old site.
• Technical fabrication: This includes start of assembly work in the major electro-mechanical components such as the crossflow turbine and electronic load control (ELC).  Fabrication work is chiefly supervised by SIBAT engineers and technician at SIBAT’s shop in Pangasinan.
• Procurement and haulage of project materials: This primarily involved participation of local partners such as the Episcopal Diocese of Santiago (EDS) and the people’s organization, Maducayan-Linayan-Natonin Farmers Association, Inc. (MLNFAI) performing materials canvassing, procurement and actual haulage of the lots from the road end in Brgy. Saliok to Brgy. Maducayan. 

It should be noted that two recent super typhoons that struck the area altered the project landscape that somehow pointed to the weak spots in the existing civil work structures (e.g., intake, forebay, penstock and power house locations).  These changes brought the SIBAT technical team to review, recalculate and modify the technical design parameters and integrate these in the final project design.  

Project start-up activities involved a series of community consultations, planning and organizing, engaging all partners – SIBAT, EDS and MLNFAI to review the project history, accept and learn from past mistakes and collectively resolve to complete the hydro project.  Indeed, social preparation process has been equally difficult as the technical side, with SIBAT designating its community organizer, Myrna Herisano, to allot more time with the community and engage them in several consultations, planning and implementation.

Links:

• SIBAT website