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� BLP Windmill Sustainable Pump Irrigation System and Hybrid Solar

Electricity System

Typical Set-up of the Hybrid Energy System and Sustainable Pump Irrigation.

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Municipalities Rice Areas (hectares)

Irrigated Rainfed Upland Total

Allen 236 138 - 374

Biri - 137 - 137

Bobon 40 1558 - 1598

Capul 136 235 - 371

Catarman 97 2926 - 3023

Catubig 73 5480 - 5553

Gamay 22 731 - 753

Laoang 11 4833 - 4844

Lapinig - 310 - 310 Las Navas - 4708 - 4708

Lavezares 278 805 - 1083

Lope de Vega - 12 - 12

Mapanas 156 21 70 247

Mondragon 99 2029 - 2128

Palapag 22 2101 - 2123

Pambujan 10 1675 4 1689

Rosario 51 112 - 163 San Antonio - 112 - 112

San Isidro 69 84 - 153

San Jose 300 780 - 1080

San Roque 116 1001 8 1125

San Vicente - 22 - 22

Silvino Lobos - - - -

Victoria 106 172 - 278 Grand Total 1822 29982 82 31886

Table 1. Rice areas per municipality in the Province of Northern Samar as

reported by the Provincial Agriculture Office in Catarman, Northern Samar.

The data shows that a very large portion yet of the agricultural area in the

province is still at the mercy of rainfall. This means that most of the farms in

the area still practice one (1) cropping per year and that is only during the

rainy season. This means that farming areas in Northern Samar are still

underutilized because in other regions of the country farmers already

practice three (3) cropping per year or five (5) cropping in two years as a

result of having functional irrigation facilities.

The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) has already built a number of

water impounding projects in the province. Presently, there is a billion peso

water impounding project that is under construction for the rice production

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areas in Catubig and Las Navas, Northern Samar.

However, the construction of an impounding project is not always feasible

because this requires an enclosed low-lying area called reservoir, where water should be stored and a watershed that will collect the rainfall to be

stored in the reservoir. The reservoir should be located above the service

are (area to be irrigated) to allow gravity flow of water to said service area.

There are a lot of agricultural area which do not have these physical

requirements needed in order to build a water impounding project.

Recently, the Department of Agriculture (DA) introduced the so-called

Shallow Tube Well (STW) technology. The STW is a well that penetrates the

shallow unconfined aquifer, the geologic formation that extends as deep

as 20 meters (65 ft) below the ground. Ground water inside the well is lifted

up to the ground surface using a pump that is run by either an internal

combustion engine or a motor.

As early as 1982, the National Water resources Council, now National Water

Resources Board, has already produced a Groundwater Map for the

Province of Northern Samar (Figure 1) through its project entitled “Rapid

Assessment of Water Supply Sources in the Philippines.”

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Figure 1. Ground water map of Northern Samar, Philippines produced by

the National Water Resources Board (1982).

The DA technology benefited the farmers for awhile, but sooner problems started to crop up especially when the engine started to breakdown. The

farmers do not have appropriate training on the repairs and maintenance

of engines. The constantly escalating fuel prices further increased the cost of production, leaving very little income to the farmers. Some farmers

wanted to shift to the motor as their pump's prime mover instead of the

engine, but to no avail. Their STWs are very, very far from the existing

electrical lines in their area. Moreover, a vast hectare of crop production

areas in Northern Samar, in particular, and the whole country, in general,

are still without the much needed irrigation facilities because the Philippine

Government lacks funds for this purpose.

During these times when fuel prices increase almost every week, the use of

non-conventional energy, such a wind and solar energy, is becoming

popular. The Ad Hoc Panel of the Advisory Committee on Technology

Innovation (1976) revealed that the direct conversion of the visible part of

the solar spectrum – sunlight – to electricity is perhaps the neatest and most

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aesthetically pleasing of all scheme for the exploitation of solar energy.

They claimed that direct photovoltaic conversion can be achieved with

basically simple devices that involve no moving parts, no additional sources

of energy, and little, if any maintenance. They explained that the

photovoltaic devices, which have become known as solar cells, are based

on the properties of certain crystalline solids that enable these materials to

supply an electric current capable of performing useful work when the material is exposed to sunlight. The very properties that make solar cells

attractive for use in developing countries area simplicity, low weight,

efficiency, reliability and lack of moving parts.

As to wind energy, the Ad Hoc Panel of the Advisory Committee on

Technology Innovation (1976) reported that wind was one of the earliest

sources of power used to multiply the productive capacity of human

beings. They revealed that on land I has served a variety of purposes which include:

• Pumping fresh water for domestic livestock and agricultural needs;

• Irrigating fields;

• Powering agricultural tasks, such as grinding corn, wheat and

sugarcane and threshing, chaff cutting and winnowing;

• Cutting wood;

• Pumping saline water in saltworks; and

• Generating electricity for a variety of purposes.

They confirmed that a variety of windmills is currently available, either

commercially or in the form of working prototypes that could be easily

manufactured as a market develops. A number of windmill designs are

available that villagers themselves can construct, often utilizing locally

available materials, they added.

The Philippines is now, little by little, embracing these power sources. In

Cagayan de Oro City, Mindanao, a solar-powered electric company is

already operational. In the Ilocos Region, especially in its coastal areas,

people have resorted to the use of windmills to generate electrical power

for household use. These systems are very much environment friendly,

through their initial investment cost is quite high.

Just like in the different parts of the Philippine archipelago, Northern Samar

is endowed with good amount of solar and wind energy but not sustained

throughout the year. In this province, solar energy is abundant during the

dry season, whereas wind energy dominates during the rainy season during

which significant number of storms, inter-tropical convergence zone and

typhoons occur. Figures 2 and 3 show the monthly average wind speed

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(m/sec) and sunshine duration (hours) observed at the UEP-PCARRD-DOST-

PAGASA Agro-meteorological station in Catarman, Northern Samar, the

capital town of Northern Samar, which is located almost midway of the

distance between the eastern and western top of the province. The figures

clearly indicated that neither wind run nor solar radiation alone will provide

a sustainable supply of energy for a year-round pumping of irrigation water

in this part of the country. However, a conjunctive use of solar and wind energy could possibly provide a constant supply of energy for said purpose.

A “Hybrid Energy System” consisting of solar cells and a windmill, is being

proposed as the energy supplier to water pumping units to be installed in

Northern Samar.

In view of these circumstances, the Bagong Lahing Pilipino, Inc., Northern

Samar Chapter, would like to propose a project called “Installation of

Irrigation Pumping Units in Northern Samar Powered by a Hybrid Energy System” in order to help the poor farmers of Northern Samar in their crop

production activities, especially for lowland rice farming.

Figure 2. Average estimated wind speed (km/h) at 10 meters high above

the ground service at the UEP-PCARRD-DOST Agrometeorological Station.

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Figure 3. Average sunshine duration (min) measured by a sunshiine recorder

at the UEP-PCARRD-DOST Agrometeorological Station.

PROJECT OBJECTIVES

This project entitled “Sustainable Pump Irrigation System Development

Project (SPISDP) generally aims to provide irrigation pumps, operated by a

combination of solar and wind power, to the poor farmers of Northern

Samar in order to increase cropping intensity in their respective farms to at

least 200% (2 cropping per year).

Specifically, this project will:

1. Improve the productivity of the rice farms in Northern Samar,

especially those owned and/or tilled by very poor farmers.

2. Provide crop insurance against short duration droughts that may

happen form time to time in Northern Samar, may reduce crop yields

and eventually farmers' income. 3. Assist the Philippine Government in implementing its food security

programs in Northern Samar, in particular and the whole country, in

general.

4. Boost the morale and empower poor farmers.

5. Encourage the unemployed workforce of the country to embrace

farming as their occupation and source of livelihood.

6. To generate employment opportunities for the BLPDFI members in

Northern Samar, especially for their sons and daughters who are

already professionals.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

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This project is a socio-economic enhancement project for the lower income

group of the Philippines population, but unsung heroes of the society, the

farmers. Basically, the project includes the following: (1) design and fabrication of a hybrid energy system, (2) drilling and development of water

wells, (3) installation of water pumping units, (4) establishment of a Project

Management Center (PMC), (5) training of farmer-beneficiaries in the

operation and maintenance of the pump and the hybrid energy system

and (6) the conduct of research studies to sustain the economic life and

efficiency of the pumping units.

To realize the different components of the project, a Project Development Center (PDC), shown in Figure 4, will be established in a ¼ hectare (50m x

50m) area that will contain a 225 m² (15m x 15m) project management

office, a 150 m² (10m x 15m) training hall, a 150 m² (10m x 15m) supply room,

a 525 m² (15m x 35m) shop and a 225 m² (15m x 15m) garage. The center

should have a 10 kVA electric generators as its emergency power supply

and a water system that will be run by the hybrid power system. The center

will be enclosed by a steel fence on a concrete base.

The project management office will be responsible for the success of the

project. Activities will be conducted from time to time at the training hall.

The supplies, both office and hardware, will be kept in the supply room for

easier accounting. The shop will be responsible for the fabrication of the

metallic parts of the hybrid energy system, especially those that requires

greater accuracy. Of course, the vehicles of the project will be kept during

nighttime at the garage.

The hybrid energy system is a combination of the wind and solar energy

systems. The wind energy consists of a windmill, governor assembly,

transmission assembly, handbrake and tower. The solar energy system

consists of several solar panels, storage batteries, power-conditioning

equipment and accessories.

The pumping unit that will be installed in farmers' fields will consist of a

centrifugal pump, electric motor, GI pipes and well casing. Of course, before the installation of the unit, well drilling and development will be

undertaken. Figure 5 shows a typical set-up of the hybrid energy system.

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Figure 4. The Project Management Center of the BLP Northern Samar

Chapter.

PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION

This project will be formally implemented starting January 2006, although

pre-implementation activities, such as establishment of the Project

Development Center, purchase of equipment and vehicle, identification of farmer-beneficiaries and other activities will start by August 2005. The actual

project implementation will last for ten (10) years (CY 2006—2015) as shown

in the table below. By December 2015, it is expected that the project should

have at least installed 900 pumping Units Powered by the Hybrid Energy

System in Northern Samar.

Year of Implementation Number of Pumping Units to be

Installed

2006 30

2007 70

2008 100

2009 100

2010 100

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2011 100

2012 100

2013 100

2014 100

2015 100

Total 900

To successfully realize this project, the agencies involved therein shall have the following roles and responsibilities:

A. Bagong Lahing Pilipino Development Foundation, Inc., National Chapter

(BLPDFI-NC)

1. To review the project proposal submitted by the BLPDFI-NS chapter

and suggest revisions if necessary.

2. To approve the project proposal and to release the funds needed for

its implementation.

3. To conduct periodic monitoring of the status of the project

implementation and undertake annual review of the

accomplishments and financial conditions of the project.

B. Bagong Lahing Pilipino Development Foundation, Inc., Northern Samar

Chapter (BLPDFI-NS)

1. To submit the project proposal to the BLPDFI-NC and make regular follow-ups on the status of said proposal until its final approval and

the release of project funds.

2. To receive the project funds released by the BLPDFI-NC and deposit it

under BLPDFI-NS chapter in a reputable bank in Catarman, Norther

Samar, as agreed upon by all the members of the BLPDFI-NS chapter.

3. To see to it that project funds are really spent for the implementation

of the project in Northern Samar and are properly accounted and

audited.

4. To undertake the different activities involved in the implementation of

the project in collaboration with their technical consultants from the

Agricultural Engineers' Development Cooperative. 5. To manage the implementation of the project and operation of the

Project Management Center.

6. To hire the needed staff and construction workers of the project in

consultation with the technical consultants.

7. To pay for the services rendered to the project by the technical

consultants, project staff and construction workers.

8. To submit reports on financial status and project accomplishments to

the BLPDFI-NC regularly.

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C. Technical Consultants (AEDC)

1. To prepare a project proposal entitled “Sustainable Pump Irrigation

System Development Project” that is to be submitted by the BLPDFI-NS to the BLPDFI-NC for funding purposes.

2. To extend technical assistance and expertise for the successful

implementation of the aforementioned project of the BLPDFI-NS.

3. To supervise on the drilling and development of water wells,

fabrication of windmills, assembly of the solar energy system and the

installation of the pumping unit and the hybrid energy system in

farmers' fields.

4. To train the farmer-beneficiaries on the operation, simple repair and

regular maintenance of the pumping unit and the hybrid energy

system.

5. To conduct research activities towards improving the efficiency and extending the economic life of the hybrid energy system and its

components.

PROJECT ORGANIZATION AND MANAGEMENT

The regional and provincial leadership of the BLPDFI and the hired

employees of the project as shown in the organizational structure of the

project manage the SPISDP.

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Organizational Structure

A. Project Director – He/she is responsible for the overall implementation of

the project in the region. He/she oversees the accomplishment of the

different components of the project and their final completion at the end of

the project duration. He/she is the Regional Director of the BLPDFI-Region

VIII.

B. Project Manager – He/she is responsible for the implementation of the

project at the provincial level. He/she supervises the affairs of the Project

Development Center. He/she acts as the Chairman of the Screening

Committee for the hiring of project staff and recommends the top three

applicants to the Board of Directors for final interview and hiring. He/she

identifies the farmer-beneficiaries of the project and recommends them to

the Board of Directors for final approval. He/she exercises control over the

installation of the pumping units and hybrid energy systems in the farms of the farmer-beneficiaries. He is the Provincial Coordinator of the BLPDFI-

Northern Samar Chapter.

C. Project Development Officer – He/she manages the operations of the

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Project Development Center as an integral part of the whole project.

He/she exercises control over the disbursement of funds by the cashier, the

conduct of training activities and the user of vehicles. He submits a monthly

report on the operations of the Project Development Center to the Project

Manager.

D. Field Operations Officer – He/she manages the project implementation in

the entire project area. He supervises the work of the field foreman and his

utility workers. He coordinates with the shop foreman as regards the

fabrication of windmills and assembly of the hybrid energy system. He

arranges with the center manager for the user of vehicles in the installation

activities. He submits a monthly report on the implementation of the project

in the area to the Project Director. He is a regular employee of the project.

He should be licensed agricultural engineer with at least one (1) year of

experience on well drilling and pump installation.

E. Research & Extension Specialist – He/she is responsible for the research

and extension aspects of the project's operation. He is to set up a Provincial

Data Bank containing data on the names of the project beneficiaries,

actual performance of the irrigation pump and hybrid energy system, crop

yields and the gross/net farm income. He/she plans out and facilitates the

research and training activities of the center. He coordinates with the

project development officer on the use of the training facilities of the

center. He is a regular employee of the project. He should be a licensed

agricultural engineer with special training on computer operation.

F. Cashier & Disbursement Officer – He/she is the custodian of the funds of

the project. He/she is the only authorized person to withdraw the funds of

the project that is deposited in a reputable bank in Catarman, Northern

Samar. He/ she is responsible for the proper disbursement of project funds.

He/she prepares a payroll and pays the salaries, wages and honoraria of

the project staff and consultants. He/she is a regular employee of the

project. He/she should be a graduate of any business course.

G. Bookkeeper – He/she is responsible for the safekeeping and updating of

the book of accounts of the project. He/she submits a financial status of the

project to the Board of Directors during their monthly meeting. He is a

regular employee of the project. He/she should be a graduate of an

accounting course.

H. Secretary – He/she keeps the documents of the project and the project

development center. He/she acts as the recording secretary of the center

manager, project director, or Board of Directors during meetings. He/she

performs clerical jobs for the project development office. He/she should

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know how to operate a computer and how to encode letters and other

documents. He/she is a regular employee of the project. He/she should be

a graduate of a secretarial course.

I. Supply Officer – He is the property custodian of the project. He exercises

control over the user of materials of the project. He keeps a record of the

materials withdrawn from his custody. He is a regular employee of the

project. He should be an engineering graduate.

J. Field Foreman – He manages the installation of the pump and the hybrid

energy system in the farmer's field. He is responsible for the proper

functioning of the installed machines and equipment. He supervises the job performance of the utility workers under his command. He is a contractual

employee of the project. He should be, at least an agricultural or civil

engineering graduate.

K. Shop Foreman- He manages the shop of the center. He exercised control

over the fabrication of the windmill and its appurtenances. He is a regular

employee of the project. At least, he should be a graduate of agricultural

or mechanical engineering course.

L. Driver/Mechanic – He is responsible for the operation, repair and

maintenance of the center's vehicle. He is a regular employee of the

project. He should be at least a high school graduate.

M. Utility Worker – He undertakes whatever task assigned to him by the

officials of the center, especially the project manager, project

development officer, field operations officer, the field and shop foremen. A

utility worker may be a field utility worker, who is involved in the installation

of the pump irrigation system or a shop utility worker, who is involved in the

fabrication activities of the shop. He is a contractual employee of the

project.

ESTIMATED PROJECT COST

The establishment and operation of this project in Northern Samar will

involve an estimated total financial requirement of PHP 1.4162 billion (US$

25.75 million). Of this amount, PHP 1.35 billion (95.33%) will be for the pump

irrigation system powered with the hybrid energy system. The personnel

services amount to PHP 29,858,440 (2.11%) while the maintenance and

other operating expenses amount to PHP 15,283,600 (1.08%). The different facility that is needed for the implementation of the project requires the

amount of PHP 18,714,500 (1.32%). Only PHP 2,292,541 (0.16%) goes to the

contingencies. This distribution of the funds into its different uses in the

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project clearly shows that this project will be a high impact undertaking of

the BLPDFI once realized.

In the calculation of the fund needed for the implementation of the project, the following assumptions were considered.

1. There will be a 10% increase in the monthly salary of the hired staff of

the project every three years.

2. There will be a 5% increase in the monthly honorarium of the BLPDFI

officials service the project as well as for the consultants.

3. The shop of the Project Development Center will fabricate the very

important parts of the windmill, which needs high accuracy. The other components of the windmill will be fabricated by the local metal

craft shops within the town of Catarman under the supervision of the

project staff and the consultants.

4. The components of the solar energy system and the pumps will be

purchased from Manila.

5. The cost estimates are based on current rates and prices.

The estimated budget for the ten (10) year operation of the project, to include the last two (2) quarters of CY 2005 wherein pre-project

implementation activities will start, is presented in Table 3. This table also

indicates the annual cost of operation of the project which includes

personnel services; maintenance and other operating expenses; facilities

and equipment and contingencies.

Ang Bagong Lahing Pilipino Development Foundation, Incorporated, 2007