Approtech Asia and ENERGIA (The International Network on Gender and Sustainable Energy Development) is working on the national level implementation of the project Climate Change, Energy Access and Technology Transfer in the Philippines. Other countries that implement the same project are in Africa and Asia. The main objective of this project is to have a better understanding of the role and contributions of the participating organizations to ensure that climate proofing energy-related technologies can support and shape national level mitigation and adaptation policies. The project is being implemented in May to December 2010.
One of these projects is with the street food vendors in Intramuros who are already using the Mabaga charcoal cookstove which saves 50% fuel with higher energy-efficiency compared to other charcoal cookstove in the market. Three food kiosks shares the solar energy for lighting, 2 7-watt CFL each kiosk in the evening serving dinner and early morning in food preparation and cooking. The project provided financial support for the initial cost of the solar panel and accessories which the food vendors will pay within 6 months, thereafter, they will own the facility which can be used for 15-20 years.Two other projects are being finalized in Litex, Quezon City and the Visayas.
Approtech Asia organized the International Workshop on Gender, Technology and Climate Change from April 15 to May 6, 2010 in Manila and Bataan, Philippines with technical support from the Technical Cooperation Council of the Philippines Department of Foreign Affairs (TCCP-DFA).
Fourteen participant-representatives of the government of Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Lesotho, Maldives, Mozambique, Samoa, Timor Leste and Zambia visited the ASEAN award-recipient coastal resource management program of Sta. Elena, Orion and the Pawikan (sea turtle) Conservation Center in Morong, Bataan. They also learned CBMS (community-based monitoring system) where Orion is a pioneering municipality, at the global level, in the successful use of the tool in governance and development. Representatives from the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) and Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) presented the relevant laws, programs and activities of the government agencies related to gender and climate change adaptation and mitigation and related environmental laws. The back home action plan was facilitated by the former Director-General of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Undersecretary of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and International Labor Organization (ILO) Regional Director Lucita Lazo and her team, e.g., former National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women (NCRFW) Commissioner Remedios Rikken. Additional input on Project Planning Matrix was comprehensively discussed by the University of the Philippines Institute for Small Scale Industries (UPISSI) Expert Crispina Almonte. Lead trainer was Approtech Asia Executive Director and international trainer on gender and climate change of the Global Gender and Climate Alliance (GGCA) Feri G. Lumampao.
The picture above was taken during the opening ceremonies of the International Workshop on Gender, Technology and Climate Change on April 15, 2010 at Hotel Kimberly, Malate, Manila. Present during the ceremonies were Approtech Asia network partners such as KAGABAY (Kababaihan Gabay ng Bayan) headed by their Executive Director Ms. Suzette Pido, SOCIP (Social Orientation and Community Involvement Program) of the Technological Institute of the Philippines (TIP) led by Dr. Adelina Ranga, Ms. Jeannette Tuason, Director for Programs of TCCP-DFA and Hon.Teresita Castillo, Undersecretary for Management & Technical Services and Executive Director for Climate Change Office of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. Also present were Approtech Asia Secretary -Treasurer Dr. Ignacio Pablo and Executive Director Ms. Feri G. Lumampao.
Approtech Asia launched the Survival Technology Package (STeP) which includes the technology useful during and after disaster. STeP is recommended to be part of the disaster-preparedness training. Most of the disaster-preparedness training do not include in it ready-to-use materials and equipment during disaster, such as, solar energy for lighting, communication, water pumping or disinfection, cooking, among others. STeP includes solar panels and accessories, solar flashlight and radio, cookstove, cooking utensil and bio-fuel for cooking, food provision and eating paraphernalia good for 72 hours stored in a plastic container or pail, tent for shelter, sleeping bag, Swiss knife, medicine kit, among others. During training on disaster-preparedness, STeP is part of the drill and a cluster of 5-6 families should own one package.
Solar system for energy for lighting, communication and water purification during disaster. Ideal for a cluster of 5-8 families. (In the photo above is Mr. Elias Posa, Approtech Asia Technical Consultant.)
Approtech Asia, as the National Focal Point of ENERGIA (The International Network on Gender and Sustainable Energy Development), is implementing three pilot projects on the use of renewable energy among Food Micro-Entrepreneurs from January to December 2010.
One of these projects is with the street food vendors in Intramuros who are already using the Mabaga charcoal cookstove which saves 50% fuel with higher energy-efficiency compared to other charcoal cookstove in the market. Three food kiosks shares the solar energy for lighting, 2 7-watt CFL each kiosk in the evening serving dinner and early morning in food preparation and cooking. The project provided financial support for the initial cost of the solar panel and accessories which the food vendors will pay within 6 months, thereafter, they will own the facility which can be used for 15-20 years.Two other projects are being finalized in Litex, Quezon City and the Visayas.
Approtech Asia's expanding improved cookstove program, in partnership with the Quezon City Vendors' Alliance (QCVA) advocates for the use of Mabaga charcoal cookstove to reduce the expense in cooking energy and increase the income of the food vendors while reducing the use of charcoal and time for cooking. Over 25 food vendors are already using the Mabaga kalan in cooking and enjoy the savings on cooking energy and there is on going initiative for expansion. (Aksyon Balita, May 7-14, 2010)
Approtech Asia's expanding common kitchen, with technical support from the World Bank Development Marketplace of 2007, in Manila has up-scaled the production of baked products and pastries, thereby providing each individual members, who are successful Food Micro-Entrepreneurs, with individual ovens for baking. Micro-credit facility was provided by Approtech Asia to acquire the oven.
Approtech Asia's continuing Retrofitting kitchen for indoor air quality and health of Food Micro-Entrepreneurs in Quezon City, with technical support from the Southeast Asia Urban Environmental Management of the Asian Institute of Technology Bangkok is expanding. One of the beneficiaries in Barangay Paltok Amparo Riyo converted the ground floor of her house into a small eatery. Another beneficiary is Gerardo Cabrera of Barangay Bagong Silang a Chicharon (Filipino term for puffed deep-fried pork skin) vendor. (See feature story)
Approtech Asia's REPAIR continuing project, in partnership with the Local Government of Tupi, with technical support from PEF, has succeeded in providing income to women and men using agricultural waste in the production of briquette and in reducing the cost of energy in brooding in the broiler production industry in Tupi, South Cotabato. A savings of 50 to 70% is realized using the charcoal briquette as alternative to LPG, which price is continuously increasing in the market.