rp ngo a finalist in British environment awards  

1 June 2007 — Philippine Ambassador to the United Kingdom Edgardo B. Espiritu reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs that a non-government organization (NGO) based in Negros is among the finalists in the UK 's 2007 Ashden Awards for Sustainable Energy.  

Alternative Indigenous Development Foundation, Inc. (AIDFI), a Negros-based NGO dedicated to organic agriculture and appropriate technologies, was cited for its pioneering project that involves the use of ram pump technology, which uses the power of water flowing in a spring, stream or river to lift a small fraction of the water up to 200 meters vertically.  

AIDFI developed and installed nearly 100 specially designed ram pumps built to last at least twenty years, in 68 hillside villages in Negros .  The ram pumps bring clean water to over 15,000 people who previously had to undertake often difficult and dangerous journeys to collect clean water.  These people now have ample water supply, around 200 to 1,000 liters per day for each household, which is used for washing, sanitation and irrigation.  

About 10% of ram pump installations have replaced electric or diesel pumps for water supply in the villages where they are installed, saving the community from PHP7,500 to PHP9,000 a month in running costs and avoiding carbon dioxide emissions.  

Central to the success of the project has been the involvement of the community in the whole process, from installation to on-going maintenance of the ram pumps.  The success of the scheme has also changed the mindset of local people, who now see renewable energy as the best option for them.  

AIDFI will be represented by Mr. Auke Idzenga, a Dutch national married to a Filipino, during the final stage of the competition to be held in London on 21 June 2007.  AIDFI will be competing with contenders from eight other countries for five awards and prize money.  Former US Vice President AI Gore will present the prizes to the winners.  

The Ashden Awards for Sustainable Energy was founded in 2001 by the Ashden Trust, one of the Sainsbury Family Charitable Trusts (SFCT).  It was subsequently established as a separate charity.  The Sainsbury family owns one of UK 's most successful supermarket chains, Sainsbury, known as an advocate of green technology and fair trade.  END

/jay

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