On June 19, 2017, the People’s Gymnasium of Tuguegarao witnessed the turnover ceremony of the hybrid solar power integrated with water harvesting facility. Key stakeholders were present during this momentous event, including representatives from the local government, academe, police, civil society, and others. The ceremony officially marks the transition of the facility’s management from Cagayan State University (CSU) to the City Government of Tuguegarao.
Engaging External Stakeholders for Resilience-Building
This initiative is part of the Asian Cities Climate Change Resilience Network (ACCCRN) Engagement Building Grants, which aim to provide funding support for city-community collaboration, encourage stakeholders to get involved in issues of climate change resilience, and form partnerships between ACCCRN participating cities and external stakeholders. This is a component of the ACCCRN project funded by the Rockefeller Foundation and implemented by ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability.
In 2016, ICLEI Southeast Asia Secretariat (ICLEI SEAS) awarded Tuguegarao and five other Philippine cities with grants that support resilience-building in their respective communities. CSU, as endorsed by the City Government of Tuguegarao, proposed the installation of a hybrid solar power facility on the People’s Gymnasium; which was later enhanced with a water harvesting facility affixed in the same venue.
Campus Director of CSU’s Research and Development, Policarpio Mabborang Jr., explained how they developed the project:
“This project was conceptualized out of our experience during disasters. Power outage is a common problem as well as access to safe water. We chose the venue, on the other hand, because we thought that the People’s Gymnasium is safe, accessible, apart from it being the default evacuation center when the need arises.”
Now that the installation has been completed, the hybrid solar power facility is envisioned to produce additional electricity that the community can access when supply is low. The rainwater harvesting equipment, on the other hand, is designed to store water which can be used for domestic needs.
Fostering Synergistic Community Efforts
The People’s Gymnasium readily showed an ambiance of camaraderie among those in attendance during the turnover ceremony. Aside from key local government officials, members of the academe, and guests, representatives from the Philippine National Police (PNP) were also present. According to Mr. Mabborang, they were able to enlist PNP’s help in maintaining security within the gymnasium. The army’s barracks is located a few steps away from the building; this proximity allowed them to keep an eye on the facilities installed in the gymnasium.
Apart from the army, the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (DRRMO) of the City Government of Tuguegarao is actively involved in this project. Pedro Cuntapay, DRRMO head, has nothing but praises for this initiative.
“It is good that the facilities were placed in the gymnasium. Aside from the electricity that we can provide to the people, the water harvesting facility can also give us access to potable water; something which could be rare during calamities.”
He also reiterated the importance of backup electricity supply when power outages happen. For their office, it is crucial to have power all the time, as they rely on their electronic gadgets and equipment to monitor the weather and inform the public accordingly.
Sustaining the Project’s Momentum
In the next months, CSU and the City Government of Tuguegarao will sign a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to ensure the project’s sustainability. The MOA stipulates that the City Government has the sole authority to maintain and manage the facility but CSU retains access for inspection, quality control, and other activities.
Mr. Cuntapay noted that his office intends to purchase and install a water treatment facility at the gymnasium as well. Connected to the rainwater harvesting facility, this addition will give access to safe and potable water which community members seeking refuge in the gymnasium can consume.
Aside from this, the local government is planning to put up a communal charging station where citizens can charge their mobile devices, free of charge.
This is one of the several activities that Tuguegarao has implemented to strengthen the city’s resilience. Like other initiatives supported by the ACCCRN Engagement Building Grants, it is hoped that this serves as an impetus for larger, more inclusive, and long-term projects promoting resiliency and disaster risk reduction. Stakeholders involved in this project have high hopes that they would be able to replicate this in other parts of Tuguegarao City and eventually, showcase this to the province as well.
