Tuesday, June 17, 2008 Seminar on biogas tech held in Davao City
THE International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), a Swiss-based humanitarian organization working within the framework of its internationally recognized mandate, has conducted a two-day seminar-workshop on biogas technology.
Selected personnel of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) and Provincial Engineers Office composed the main group of participants.
The course, which was conducted at the University of South Eastern Philippines (Usep) in Davao City from June 10 to 11, was designed to enhance the participants' capabilities in the construction of biogas digesters in detention facilities.
This particular activity is an integral area of concern for ICRC's Water and Habitat Department, supporting jail management authorities in technical projects for the improvement of the conditions of detention facilities.
Jails are often confronted with specific problems related to poor sanitation and inappropriate treatment of wastewaters, posing health threats not only to the inmates in the jail but also to the population living in neighboring areas.
The biogas digester work as a septic tank with an expected reduction of up to 100 percent of the pathogens while storing methane gas produced during the anaerobic digestion of organic materials.
The gas can be used for cooking or lighting, offering an additional advantage on the reduction of wood consumption and fuel expenses.
Juan Fuertes, ICRC sub-delegation head station in Davao City, said the biogas intervention through the utilization of human waste is indeed a breakthrough in jail management in the Philippines.
He said this will largely benefit the jail inmates, specifically in Mindanao, where three projects will start in the coming weeks.
The biogas workshop was well realized through the partnership and collaboration with government agencies. The Usep through its president, Dr. Perfecto A. Alibin, and the university's Research and Extension Division through director Danilo B. Pacoy, the Southern Mindanao Agriculture and Resource Research and Development Consortium (Smarrdec) represented by director Lourdes C. Generalao and the Department of Agriculture (DA) through regional director Roger C. Chio were instrumental in realizing the workshop's objectives.
Felimon Santander, a famed farmer-scientist in Davao Region, and Engineer Rolando J. Faraon of the Department of Energy (DOE) provided the technical and scientific inputs on the biogas processes.
The field exposure and demonstration in a private farm in Digos City on the following day, served as the highlight of the workshop. (Press release)
