28.05.2024

Project SunStream: Securing San Pedro's Water Future

REBOOT, News & Activities
 

Discover how Project SunStream is transforming Barangay San Pedro by establishing a Barangay Waterworks and Sanitation Association (BWSA) to create a sustainable water supply system and enhance the community's quality of life.

The community of Barangay San Pedro in Iriga, Camarines Sur, is facing significant challenges related to the availability of resources and infrastructure for a reliable water supply. Located in the upland mountainous areas of Iriga, San Pedro is a barangay experiencing the consequences of the absence of a consistent potable water supply and an adequate water distribution system. These issues have far-reaching implications, impacting the health and sanitation, livelihoods, education, quality of life, and overall development of the community. While there have been some initiatives to establish a water distribution system connected to a tank and pump, the current infrastructure, comprising mismatched PVC pipes and equipment, is struggling to meet the demands of the community. Furthermore, the operation and maintenance of the system are placing a strain on the barangay's financial resources and manpower.

Project SunStream aims to help Barangay San Pedro establish a sustainable, community-driven water supply system by forming the Barangay Waterworks and Sanitation Association (BWSA). SunStream aims to achieve this through:

  1. Policy and Resource Consultations - Coordinating with the Barangay Officials and BWSA expert(s) to craft the necessary policies and resources needed for the creation of BWSA.
  2. Capacity Building - Training of the leaders that will implement and manage the BWSA together with key representatives from various sectors of the community that will help in cascading the information to their constituents.
  3. Community Collaboration - Educating and involving the community in the turnover of BWSA from the Barangay to the first set of BWSA leaders.

As the team progressed through the REBOOT program and continued to collaborate with our partner organization, Camarines Sur III Electric Cooperative, Inc. (CASURECO), our focus shifted from advocating for renewable energy to emphasizing policy-based and community-centered solutions. It became clear that the community of Barangay San Pedro has the potential to meet its supply and material needs, but this potential is hindered by the lack of a reliable water distribution system, an urgent issue that needed immediate attention. Establishing a Barangay Waterworks and Sanitation Association (BWSA) is crucial to addressing this issue before pursuing renewable energy solutions, as ensuring reliable access to clean and well-maintained water facilities is fundamental for community health and sustainability, providing a stable foundation for successful renewable energy projects.

 

Team CamSur's REBOOT Journey

In their initial meeting, Team CamSur convened with the barangay captain of Brgy. San Pedro, alongside representatives from the Camarines Sur III Electric Cooperative, Inc. (CASURECO III). The barangay captain discussed the local water system's current state and welcomed the support of REBOOT and CASURECO.
The Brgy. San Pedro community is grappling with the challenge of dwindling water supply. To cope, individuals have strategically positioned water containers near the few available water faucets along the roadside, ensuring they can collect water when the motor pump operates as scheduled. The absence of water would leave them with no means to meet their home needs, particularly in terms of hygiene and health. However, the water system is not without its issues, with instances of pipe damage leading to disruptions. In such cases, the community is left with no choice but to wait for a water truck to pass by, a wait that can extend up to several days.
The team conducted an energy audit of the residences, and discovered a common trend: numerous homes were outfitted with a variety of appliances that were significantly underutilized. This was primarily due to the financial strain faced by residents, who found themselves unable to afford the exorbitant electric bills associated with regular appliance usage.
During the team's focus group discussion with Barangay Officials and Representatives from various sectors, it became evident that the need for a stable water supply outweighed even the need for electricity. This lack of stable water supply was found to have a significant impact on multiple sectors within the community.
The team visited and assessed the nearby waterfall to determine its potential as a source of renewable energy. After considering the distance of the falls from the community, its relatively weak flow, and its potential to be more of an attraction than a viable source of renewable energy, the team decided not to pursue this option further.
The team conducted an assessment and inspection of the barangay’s water tank and pump. The tank is connected to a spring in the lowlands and supplies water to multiple puroks* in the community through a motor pump. Despite its extensive PVC piping system, the tank has experienced multiple damages in the past year, making maintenance a significant issue. (*Note: A purok is a small, local community or neighborhood within a barangay in the Philippines, often consisting of a few dozen households or families that share close social and geographic ties.)
Team Camsur conducted a community education on renewable energy and the importance of water in our daily lives. The event drew participation from a diverse array of community sectors, including representatives from local government, educational institutions, businesses, and community organizations. The session included discussion of RE 101 and how renewable energy can help their problem regarding water.
The team had a succeeding meeting with Barangay San Pedro Barangay Officials, discussing the importance of establishing a duly recognized Barangay Waterworks and Sanitation Association or BWSA. The BWSA is an organized group of community members responsible for the administration, operation, and maintenance of water facilities in barangays, ensuring their proper use and upkeep. This initiative is crucial as it not only maintains sustainable access to potable water but also significantly enhances the quality of life for all residents , ensuring the longevity and functionality of these essential resources.
Community Education on BWSA. The community education was attended by the representatives of the various sectors of the barangay. This session focused on why it is important to form a BWSA and it included details such as the mission, vision, officers, duties, and possible fees.
Cluster 4. Drawing what our dream for our community would look like - an empowered and healthy community strengthened by a reliable and sustainable solar-powered water.
REBOOT Cluster 6: Graduation together with our Project Partner, CASURECO III.

 

 

Key Takeaways

The journey was a rollercoaster ride. From changes to the community to be visited to changes in the objectives and goals of the project, we saw that while the problems are simple, solutions and the way forward might not be as straightforward as they seem. Throughout our journey, we have had a couple of takeaways:

  1. There is a severe lack of searchable data on smaller and rural barangays in the Philippines. This made it harder for the group to garner historical data on the chosen barangays. However, stories Stories from the field served as a rich and detailed source of the context and conditions of the barangays. 
  2. The context of the community is a combination of the numbers and figures and the stories of the people living in them. While the figures and the initial ideas that we had led us to believe that there is a problem with power and electricity, the extensive consultations with from the community led us to another issue, which is water supply, which actually affects a bigger part of their daily lives.
  3. Government bodies play a key role in the success of a solution. They may inhibit or allow solutions based on many factors, including history, power, politics, cost, economics, practicality, and more.
  4. Sustainable solutions require legislation and policies that will support them. No solution can sustain itself without a strong policy to protect it from being disregarded. Moreover, legislation and policy must be supported by all the branches of the government for them to fully succeed.
  5. Solutions must always be collaborative and consultative in nature. A community is not a group to be rescued, but a group to be enabled and empowered. Our experience with Barangay San Pedro led us to the realization that they already have all the things they need in order to move forward and address their problems. What we needed to do was only help them to realize the gravity of their community issue, provide networks and the knowledge that we have, and be an open and compassionate ear. 
  6. Social issues affecting the basic necessities of a community such as water serves as a glass ceiling for them to reach full development. Solutions should always be holistic and needs-based fit to the needs of the community. There should be a prioritization of community issues and solutions. By resolving their water issue, the community is given more opportunities to engage in the problem-solving of other problems in the community much more related to energy and the Just Energy Transition.

The Renewable Energy Bootcamp (REBOOT) Program

Project SunStream is one of the outputs from Batch 4 of REBOOT, a comprehensive training initiative designed to equip participants with the necessary skills and knowledge to navigate and impact the energy sector. It comprises three core components:

  • Workshop Clusters: Participants undergo six four-day workshops spread over twelve months, covering a range of topics from renewable energy technologies to socioeconomic analysis.
  • Community Immersions: Trainees live within partner communities to experience and understand local social realities firsthand, fostering deep community engagement and empathy.
  • Project Development: Trainees collaborate with partner development organizations to design and implement community-based energy transition projects.

Registration for the REBOOT Program is currently ongoing and ends on Friday, 31 May 2024.
Learn more about the program, how to join, and send in your application now!

Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung
Philippines

Unit 2804 Discovery Centre #25 ADB Avenue, Ortigas Center 1605 Pasig City, Metro Manila Philippines

+ 63-28-6346919
info.ph(at)fes.de