CATEEL MICRO – HYDROPOWER PROJECT

A PROJECT FUNDED BY THE UNDP – GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT FACILITY /

SMALL GRANTS PROGRAMME

             THE PROJECT The 15 – Kilowatt micro-hydropower project is located in Barrio Maglahus, Cateel, Davao Oriental. The project was being rehabilitated and made operational in February 2001. Around 50 Mandayan households have been benefited through household lighting. It is planned that a post harvest facility and agricultural processing equipment like abaca stripping would be also one of the diversified end-uses of the project.

The micro-hydropower made use of black iron pipes as pressure pipes and locally manufactured crossflow turbine. The water discharge is estimated at 100 – 200 liters per second that even with a small potential head that was exploited to produce mechanical energy, a 15 – Kilowatt power design capacity was generated.

The main funding for the project comes from the UNDP – GEF/ Small Grants Programme with the counterpart from the barangay unit of Maglahus and the provincial government of Davao Oriental. Yamog assisted in the rehabilitation of the system.

With the available electricity, the Mandayan households can now avail of 24-hour quality lighting for the children to study and Mandaya women to engage in other productive activities during nighttime. Other households have refrigeration ( about 25 households)

The project replaces the 15 – Kilowatt diesel run generator that provides lighting to some households.

The proponent is the SIDLAK – Dabaw, a non-governmental organization based in Cateel in partnership with the community based organization, PARA – ISO.

The project is regularly maintained and maintained and operated by homegrown operators. It is still in operations since 2001.