The United States Trade Development Agency (USTDA) and WorldWater
Corporation (OTC
BB:WWAT.OB - news) of Pennington, New Jersey, USA, have
signed an agreement with the island province of Cebu to undertake
the feasibiltiy of rural development using solar power.
The USTDA will fund the study to be conducted by WorldWater
with US $235,470 (P9.42M) as the first phase of a US $20 million
project.
A project agreement leading to the grant to be extended through
the Department of Interior and Local Governments (DILG) was recently
signed here even while a companion Memorandum of Understanding
on project financing was concluded between LGU Guarantee Corp.
(LGUGC) and WorldWater Corp. It is anticipated that the LGUGC,
a partnership of the Development Bank of the Philippines and a
consortium of private banks, will guarantee financing of the follow-up
US $20 million Cebu water project.
The feasibility development agreement was signed for WorldWater
by its founding chairman Quentin T. Kelly, and for the USTDA by
US Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission Michael Malinowski. Director
Norman Toledo represented DILG while Governor Pablo Garcia signed
for the province.
The Cebu Potable Water Project (CPWP) launched the other day is
a result of the Cebu Provincial Board and the Governor Obtaining
USTDA assistance in the conduct of feasibility studies required
by the project. The MOU on project financing, on the other hand,
was signed by WorldWater's Quentin T. Kelly and LGUGC President
and CEO Jesus G. Tirona. Sustainable water supply has always been
a problem in Cebu, even in the countryside where water may not
yet be in short supply. But this is not a situation unique to the
area.
According to Kelly, out of the world's total water, 97% is saline,
and of the remaining 3%, half of that is glacial. Only about three
quarters of one percent is clean and safe, as the rest has been
polluted. By his estimates, nine million, mostly children, die
from unsafe drinking water every year. Nearly two billion have
no access to clean water, he added.
The asssessment phase of the project would include an evaluation
of the known water supply and sources and the associated distribution
systems.
According to WorldWater Vice President Dr. Anand Rangarajan, WorldWater's
experience in installing solar pump water systems in remote locations
show the problem is in bringing the water to the communities that
need it. The usual method of remote water supply is diesel-powered
pumping. But this has been shown impractical because of handling
and maintenance cost. The revolutionary controller box developed
by WorldWater for its solar pumping system allows off-the-shelf
use of AC pumps whifh otherwise would have required expensive batteries.
This has made alternative technology affordable.
Gov. Garcia said that as early as 1997, they had looked to solar
power as the alternative for generating water supply in the towns
of the island of 2 million population.
"Rural water development using solar power was identified
as a priority undertaking under the Cebu Socio-Economic and Environmental
Development (Cebu-SEED) initiative," Gov. Garcia explained.
Working with the Cebu-based Total Solutions Technology, Inc. (TSTI)
of Ronald Diola, WorldWater, TSTI and DILG have organized a 40-man
assessment group broken down into 10 teams of engineers, hydrogeologists
and social development workers. Some 136 barangays in 32 towns
will be covered, with the initial study to also include social
acceptability of the project.
CPWP proponents are also working towards a "paradigm shift" based
on the solar power technology that would make full cost recovery
on the project feasible, according to Dr. Rangarajan.
In a tie-up with the LGUGC, access to international and domestic
financial institutions can be facilitated.
While the high cost of conventional systems (because of maintenance
costs or distribution line investments) may not be bankable, a
solar powered one designed for remote locations may, it was pointed
out by LGU Guarantee Corp. President Tirona.
WorldWater today has such systems installed in 19 countries, particularly
in Asia and Africa. Other remote areas whre access to conventional
power is difficult, especially in energing countries, are also
being equipped with WorldWater's proprietary solar systems.
SOURCE: WorldWater Corp.
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