Coconut Farmers in Albay Benefit from Solar Water Distribution Facility

A solar-powered potable water facility has been established in Camalig, Albay alongside other livelihood projects to assist local coconut farmers in the province. The facility was set up by Chemrez Technologies Inc., a subsidiary of D&L Industries Inc., in partnership with the Lao Foundation and doTerra International, a global company for essential oil.

The project required two years of planning and conceptualization from Chemrez which was supported by a generous financial grant from doTerra. Currently, the multimillion-peso water distribution facility has 12 taps which are all operated by a solar-powered pump.

This is located six kilometers within the permanent danger zone of the iconic Mount Mayon where approximately 300 households from Barangay Quirangay used to line up for hours just to fetch potable water from the town’s single water source. The Lao Foundation as well as the Bantonan Community Development Cooperative were crucial in identifying the community and mapping the sustainable project for the residents.

Most of the people who were tasked to fetch the water were children of coconut farmers who would fill up four 20-gallon containers before going to school. The facility is expected to be established in other similar areas for the benefit of coconut farmers following the success of the pilot project.

Chemrez Technologies, Inc. has always been keen on ensuring the steady livelihood and well-being of local coconut farmers and their families. The firm is also running the first continuous coco biodiesel plant in the Philippines as well as being the leading manufacturer of sustainable integrated coco oleo chemical-based specialty ingredients, powder coatings, and resins.

In line with the launch of the project, the Lao Foundation has partnered with  Technical Vocational schools in the area to offer scholarships for students. At least 139 technical vocation graduates from Don Bosco Legaspi, Don Bosco Naga, and DualTech Canlubang are immersed as in-plant trainees (IPTs), all of whom are supported by the foundation.

Following their immersion, they will also be given employment opportunities under the D&L group’s manufacturing facilities. The Lao Foundation is also among the largest specialty foods ingredients, plastics, and oleochemicals firms in the country.

The foundation’s advocacy is centered on improving lives thru education and work opportunities. Additionally, the Lao Foundation has partnered with Agrea, an award-winning sustainable agriculture group, to provide 30 coconut farmers and their beneficiaries necessary livelihood and life skills training.

The Philippines generates upwards of $2 billion in yearly earnings from coconut exports with around 3.5 million livelihoods of farmers being directly connected to the country’s coconut industry.

Source: Manila Bulletin