VIGAN CITY, Ilocos Sur (PIA) – At least 758 residents or 180 households in barangay Nagbettedan, Santo Domingo, Ilocos Sur have been assured with potable water even in times of disaster through the Upgraded Emergency Disinfection System (UPEDS) of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).
 
The Provincial Science and Technology Office (PSTO) in Ilocos Sur turned over the UPEDS, which is the first in the Ilocos Region, to the residents of said barangay as part of the implementation of the Community Empowerment through Science and Technology (CEST) program on August 23.
 
According to the DOST, the UPEDS is a semi-continuous type, portable, and ready-to-use water treatment facility that aims to address the shortage of potable drinking water within communities, especially in times of disaster as it has an integrated solar panel that provides reliable and uninterruptible power supply.
 
“This technology covers Livelihood/Economic Enterprise Development; Health and Nutrition; Environmental Protection and Conservation; and even Disaster Risk Reduction and Management as it could address clean water using solar-powered technology of disinfecting deep well water, rainwater, or contaminated spring water, especially in times of disaster,” said Engr. Jordan Abad, PSTO-Ilocos Sur provincial director.
 
Apart from providing cheaper and safer drinking water, Engr. Edison Acosta, Science Research Specialist II of the DOST-1, said UPEDS is also seen to encourage livelihood in the community.
 
This intervention resulted from the onsite assessment conducted by the DOST-Industrial Technology Development Institute (DOST-ITDI) on February 21 wherein the samples taken from the deep wells and springs did not pass the laboratory test they conducted. 
 
Punong Barangay Efren Pigao expressed his gratitude to the DOST because the intervention will help address the significant challenge in their locality – the insufficient potable water source.
 
“Thank you DOST, for this technology that you are deploying in our community. This is a big help to us since potable water in the barangay is not enough to cater to the daily needs of the community,” Pigao said.
 
Meanwhile, Engr. Reynaldo Esguerra of the Environmental and Biotechnology Division of DOST-ITDI shared the story that motivated him and his team to create the system that could provide potable water to communities especially those affected by disasters.
 
“Because of what happened in Region 2, which was hit by a strong typhoon and when Mindanao was hit by an earthquake, they lost their source of potable water. We came up with the idea of an Emergency Disinfection System until may mga improvements leading to the Upgraded Emergency Disinfection System. If you see something we can improve on our technology, don’t hesitate to tell us so we can look into it,” he told the residents of the village. (JCR/AMB/JMCQ, PIA Ilocos Sur)