Please provide a detailed project description including the following: (1) Why this project should be completed; (2) Who and how many will benefit; (3) How will said project benefit individual lives and daily living conditions; and, (4) If not funded, what are the consequences to individual lives, if any?
From August to December, 2005, a poverty survey was done in all 17 barangays, or villages, of the Municipality of Pamplona, Camarines Sur, the Philippines. Barangay Captains in each barangay listed the lack of clean drinking water as a major problem, especially for the most destitute families. The problem was again highlighted in January of 2007, during an outbreak of diarrhea in Barangay Del Rosario when 50 people became sick and one child died.
In direct response to this need, the Bio-Sand Water Filter (BSF) is being introduced in Pamplona. The BSF is a proven technology that is used in over 40 developing countries worldwide. It is designed to provide clean drinking water for a family of 6-15 people per day, with a total daily output of 220 Liters. The filter is easily constructed using local materials, is affordable, easy to use, costs nothing to maintain and removes 95% of contaminants from water.
Another objective of this project is to provide a livelihood for Pamplona’s Out of School Youth (OSY). The OSY in all 17 barangays have been organized into a youth group called the Pag-asa Youth Association of the Philippines (PYAP; “Pag-asa” means “hope”). Four PYAP members have been hired to build, sell and install the filters in Pamplona and surrounding communities. After about six months, new youth are hired so that many PYAP members can benefit from the program.
The cost of the filter is 1,300 pesos. We have found that, while many people can afford the BSF, the people who need the filter most cannot afford it. In order to provide Pamplona’s poorest with clean water, we will use the money donated by the Rotary Club of Temecula ($1,400), Temecula Sunrise Rotary Club ($500) and Allison Mackenize and Larry Chrystal ($1,100) to build and install 60 filters and buy 300 sanitary water containers, five for each filter. Barangay officials and Barangay Health Workers will identify the most impoverished families who will benefit most from having a BSF in their homes. Each filter will be shared by five families, and each family will receive a sanitary water container. Since the average size of a family in this region of the Philippines is seven, an estimated 35 people will use each filter and a total of about 2,100 people will benefit from these 60 filters (35 x 60=2,100).
If this project is not funded, these families would be forced to drink contaminated water, having no resources to either treat the contaminated water or buy clean water. Drinking untreated water can lead to many sicknesses and, especially to the young and malnourished, death. These families cannot afford medicine or trips to the hospital. If the head of the household becomes sick and cannot work, the family loses its income and cannot buy food. The BSF will be a great benefit for these families.
Once approved, the project will take about five months to complete. The PYAP workers can build 30 filters in one month, needing two months to build the required filters. Family identification will start immediately, with the first installations taking place in the second month. Installations and check-ups should be completed by the end of the fifth month. Bad weather, harvest cycles and community events that would delay the project have been accounted for (as much as possible) in this five month schedule.
Ø Please submit copies of any written bid(s) and/or contract(s) from contractor(s), subcontractor(s), and/or vendor(s) supplying all required materials for said project.
-There are no contracts or bids of any kind associated with this project.
Ø Please submit target "start date" and target "date of completion" once the Rotary Club of Temecula has approved the Proposal/Agreement and transfer of funds.
- We will begin once we receive the funding, and the project will take about five months to complete. We would like to begin by January 2, 2008 and be finished by June 2, 2008.
Ø What is your preference in the transferring of funds for “optimal” documentation on both sides?
-Transferring funds directly to the Philippines National Bank account of Peace Corps Volunteer Tom Moutsos is the easiest option.
Ø Provide current exchange rate of US dollars to pesos (I believe a previous email stated $1 USD equals 43 pesos).
-The current exchange rate as of Dec. 3, 2007, is $1=PHP 42.43 ($3,000=PHP127,290)
Ø List of contact names, business addresses, email addresses, and phone numbers of responsible Rotarian and/or person(s) carrying out said project and providing a progress report, including digital photos (if possible) via email, to the Rotary Club of Temecula.
-Peace Corps Volunteer Tom Moutsos will carry out the project, while Dr. Francis Dabu, President of the Rotary Club of Naga City, will provide reports to the Rotary Club of Temecula. Email is the easiest way to contact both people.
