Army taps hydropower for Negros camp

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Here is an example showing that small-scale hydro-electricity can work with minimal environmental impact. The same concept could be applied to many rivers and streams in the country.

One thing to keep in mind though is that haphazardly placing dams in waterways, without thinking about the possible effects on the migration of the fish and wildlife that use and live in them, may have unexpected and possible disastrous results...

For example many dams and dikes built in progressive countries are now designed to allow the fish (like salmon) and other aquatic animals to continue to migrate up and down stream, which is essential to their survival and important to the environment (plants, animals and even people).
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http://dateline.ph/?p=14456

By Dateline Philippines
Posted on Jul. 13, 2010 at 2:04am |
BACOLOD CITY, Philippines – The Army’s 303rd Infantry Brigade made Philippine military history by making its headquarters the only military camp to harness water as a source of electric power.

Colonel Maximo Caro, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, said the hydropower generating system constructed at the eastern portion of Camp Major Nelson Gerona, which utilizes water from Minoyan creek, can produce a potential 25 kilowatts.

This is enough to light up not only the 24-hectare camp but also a nearby housing project and the street lights of Barangay Minoyan in Murcia town, Negros Occidental.

A dike was built in the creek in February, diverting water to a turbine that generates electricity before returning to the waterway.

Former Armed Forces chief Victor Ibrado provided P200,000 to jumpstart the project, which is expected to be completed this month with additional financial support from the Philippine Army.

Once the project is up and running, Caro said they expect to save P20,000 a month in electricity costs.

The newly-finished dam is also used as a swimming area.

To improve the water supply and distribution system within the camp, an elevated water tank was also constructed at a budget of P500,000. It can hold 21,000 cubic liters of water, and is also expected to benefit 140 beneficiaries of the Gawad Kalinga housing project inside the camp.