WEDNESDAY, 23 MAY 2012 19:32 BONG D. FABE / CORRESPONDENT
MALAYBALAY CITY—Despite the looming power crisis in Mindanao, a tribal community in Bukidnon has been enjoying a continuous supply of both electricity and potable water for several years now.
Sourced from a small free-flowing stream that flows directly from the mighty Pulangi River, the mini-hydropower plant installed by the Environmental Science for Social Change (ESSC) is producing 10 kilowatts of electricity, enough for the basic lighting needs of the 50 Pulangiyen households in Sitio Bendum, Barangay Busdi here.
The ESSC spent about P1.5 million to have the mini-hydropower plant installed two years ago.
The same stream provides ice-cold potable water to the tribe for the last 15 years. Again, thanks to the ESSC, which installed the P100,000-spring box to pump water from the stream to the households.
As the Pulangiyens struggle to preserve their own culture, tradition and practices, the onslaught of modern technologies brought by “outsiders” into their tribal life caused them to “reject” being connected to the mini-hydro power plant.
“When we constructed the mini-hydropower plant, we wanted it to energize the whole community of 50 households. However, the people preferred to be connected to the Bukidnon Second Electric Cooperative (Buseco) because they already have refrigerators, televisions, and other appliances that rely on electricity,” said ESSC Program Director Eric “Popoy” Bruno.
The ESSC is a Jesuit research institute that promotes environmental sustainability and social justice through the integration of scientific methodologies and social processes.
Established by Fr. Pedro Walpole, SJ, the ESSC operates the Apu Palamguwan Cultural Education Center (APC) in sitio Bendum as a response to the desire of the Pulangiyen people to read, write and be educated in the co`ntext of their culture and life.
The APC adheres to a needs-and culture-based education, a strong advocacy of Walpole, who believes that if one is to be a productive contributor to society, they need to be deeply rooted in their culture.
The APC also emphasizes the importance of making education accessible to indigenous cultural communities and in making the education system responsive to the needs of the people. It also recognizes the importance of integrating the community’s knowledge, system and way of life in the school curriculum to sustain the culture and tradition of the Pulangiyen and other cultural groups in the area.
Bruno said the APC is the only structure in picturesque Bendum that is powered by the mini-hydropower plant. He, however, sees a very good future for the hydro plant as it now serves as a model that a small sitio or even barangay can be energized by a small free-flowing stream.
“We just have to be resourceful in taking advantage of whatever resources we have. But in doing so, we have to keep in mind that these resources are finite and therefore we have to use them sustainably. It is also important that we protect our immediate environment because it is our resource base,” he said.
In the construction of the mini-hydro plant and spring box, the ESSC made sure that no trees were felled or cut. The ESSC also maintains a reforestation area upstream in order to make the mini-hydropower plant viable for many years to come. source
In Photo: Eric “Popoy” Bruno, program director of Environmental Science for Social Change, points to the small water catchment they build to channel water from a small stream to a mini dam to power the mini-hydro power plant that produces 10 kilowatts of electricity. (Bong D. Fabe)
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