Philippines' Entry in World Challenge 2010

World Challenge 2010 is a competition organised by BBC World News Limited ("BBC World News") aimed at finding projects or small businesses from around the world that have shown enterprise and innovation at a grass roots level. BBC, through World Challenge want to hear from our viewers about the social entrepreneurs who are making a difference without costing the earth. It could be you or someone you know. More on World Challenge 2010 RULES, HERE.

This year's Philippine Entry is from THE ONLY WAY IS UP - Carrying Water to the mountains.

It's baffling how some inventions fail to achieve a tipping point. The hydraulic ram pump - which has been around for a couple of centuries falls into this category. The Alternative Indigenous Development Foundation Inc. (AIDFI) is determined to see the ram pump finally come into its own. Using the power of a river's flow to literally push water uphill without any other energy input, it's proving to be a boon for poor villagers living in mountainous regions.

The ram pump can save both hours of back-breaking work carrying water and cash where expensive water pumps are replaced. AIDFI has introduced the ram pump to over 170 upland villages, and has plans to spread the benefits far and wide among poor communities.

A Philippine NGO based in Bacolod City created the Hydraulic Ram Pump which effectively pushes river water up to the mountains without any electricity! It is the flagship program of AID Foundation (AIDFI) which made it to the Top 12 Finalists of this year’s BBC World Challenge 2010 among over a 1,000 nominations!

The Philippines had won previously last 2005 via COCONETS: Coconuts for Erosion Control - Phillipines; Preventing landslides in the Philippines using waste coconut husks.

About Coconets:
In little more than two generations the Philippines has seen nearly all its jungle vanish. With little regard to the future, loggers and squatters have destroyed watersheds. The inevitable result has been landslides sweeping away topsoil. In 1995 agricultural engineer Justino Arboleda started Juboken Enterprise to combat soil erosion. The company makes nets that act as surrogate tree roots by holding loose soils together. Joboken’s coconut plantations provide the fibre. The nets are made from waste coconut husks: an eco-friendly solution to a developing eco-disaster.

The ‘coconets’ were rapidly taken up throughout the Philippines, and Arboleda began to develop other uses for the different waste products generated on his coconut farms. These included doormats, stuffing for car seats and mattresses, and fertiliser (made from coconut dust) suitable for organic farms. But the flagship product is still going strong: coconets are now being produced at a rate of 30,000 square metres per month for markets throughout the world.

This continuing success has improved the lives of more than 1500 families in the Philippines: each family involved in the project earns an additional income of around US$5 dollars per day. These achievements have been honoured by the President of the Philippines, who in 2004 presented Juboken Enterprise with a special award.


Let us rally together and support the Philippine Entry this World Challenge 2010! You can Watch the BBC documentary on AIDFI’s work on November 6 9:30 AM and 4:30 PM and on November 7 10:30 PM.

Make your Vote Count at the World Challenge 2010 Finalists.
Philippines' Entry in World Challenge 2010 Philippines' Entry in World Challenge 2010 Reviewed by Vernon Joseph Go on Monday, November 01, 2010 Rating: 5

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