PHILIPPINES, Municipality of Murcia, Negros Occidental - January 2008
Hydraulic ram pump water system in support of the protection of 4,942 acres of forest
Click photo to enlarge
In 1992, the Philippine Government enacted the National Integrated Protected Areas System Act, which designated "biologically important public lands that are habitats of rare and endangered species". Unfortunately, very little community consultation occurred in the process, so there is scant, if any, grassroots support for some of the protected areas. One of the areas so designated is Northern Negros Island in the Western Visayas Region. The Municipality of Murcia is located within the North Negros Forest Reserve and Mt. Kanlaon Natural Park. Illegal logging, slash and burn farming, and indiscriminate hunting persist as threats to the "protected area." Now three barangays (villages) in the Municipality of Murcia - Barangays Canlandog, Santa Cruz and Buenavista - are collectively willing to commit themselves to protecting 4,942 acres of watershed forest area adjacent to their villages for 30 years, in exchange for the installation of a hydraulic ram pump water system. Under this proposed project, Alternative Indigenous Development Foundation, Inc. (AIDFI) will install hydraulic ram pumps to provide water for sanitation, hygiene, washing clothes, eating and drinking to the communities. *
UPDATE May 2008 - In February and March 2008 Alternative Indigenous Development Foundation (AIDFI) met with local government officers and held community meetings to discuss the details of the project. The Local Government and Provincial Environment and Management Office have both indicated their support for the project either in terms of additional funds or conservation support. Individuals within the communities were chosen for equipment repair and maintenance training, and the first set of materials were purchased and delivered for the Barangay Canlandog system. Construction at all sites is scheduled through March 2009. A Biodiversity Monitoring and Evaluation meeting is planned for May 2008 so that community members can continue discussions on the specifics of the forest reserve protection and conservation plan.
UPDATE January 2009 - As of September 2008, installation of the pumps at Canlandog was complete and a maintenance team was trained. Plans for the rest of 2008 through March 2009 include installation and trainings at the two remaining sites.
UPDATE June 2009 - As of April 2009 the ram pumps in Barangay Calandog continue to work very well. In Barangay Sta. Cruz, the ram pumps were completed in January 2009. The ram pump installation in Barangay Buenavista went into full gear on April 12. Including the tuning of the pumps, they estimate that the project will be finished by May 15, 2009.
UPDATE July 2009 - The project is now complete. In the four sites a total of six ram pumps were placed. The water systems include all components: impounding systems, diversion lines, catchments, ram pumps systems, delivery lines, reservoirs, distribution lines and tap stands. In the four sites there are a total of 23 tap stands which together deliver 50,000 liters per day. There are a total number of 217 households receiving water, thereby providing each household with an average of 230 liters per day, compared to the average of 20-40 liters per day before the project. Additionally, all four sites have 2 local technicians, who have been extensively trained in the operation, repair and maintenance of the ram pump. Each of the ram pump systems has a toolbox with all the necessary tools needed for repair and maintenance.
*Support for asterisked projects is provided fully or in part by: 
