Benguet barangays benefit from water project

By Susan C. Aro

Friday 20th of April 2012

by Susan Aro

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet, April 20 (PIA) -- Five barangays of Kapangan municipality are recipients of the Community-Managed Potable Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (CPWASH) project which promotes safe water supply and sanitation technologies.

Managed by the Department of Agriculture and implemented by the Philippine Center for Water and Sanitation (PCWS), the CPWASH project involves a low-cost, culturally acceptable and appropriate water supply and improved sanitation technologies through the installation of biogas reactors, and better hygiene.

A total of 156 barangays in Taba-ao, Balakbak, Pudong, Pongayan and Sagubo in Kapangan will benefit from the P600,000-worth project, according to Leticia Laoagan of DAR-Benguet. The project is initially implemented in Taba-ao, said Laoagan.

Water from the source will pass through filters eliminating the water’s iron content peculiar in water sources and other contaminants, said Laoagan.

The project also involves a biogas digester. The technology entails the conversion of human, animal and other biodegradable wastes into biogas. Components of the project include a concrete tank, biosand filter, iron removal filter and spring box for the water supply and biogas digester to produce cooking gas.

Structures will be built utilizing indigenous materials and ferrocement for the concrete tanks and biodigester used in constructing boats.

Laogan said two sets of the water supply project and biogas digester will be accorded for each barangay.

PCWS consultant Engr. Apolonio Jimenez trained a foreman, Juniper Pilay of Tuel, Tublay, who will oversee the implementation of the rest of the projects with labor counterpart from the communities. (JDP/SCA- PIA CAR,Benguet)