Characteristics of Agroforestry

CHARACTERISTICS OF AGROFORESTRY

By Anton Antonio

November 8, 2015

There are several definitions of agroforestry.  For our purpose, let us use the following definition: “Agroforestry is a technical discipline whose main concern is to develop sustainable production systems.  It answers such questions as what crops/livestock combination to raise, or how soil and water can be conserved.  An agroforestry technology can be used not only by upland farmers but also by private individuals and corporations who want to develop upland areas.  Agroforestry is the primary technical support of social forestry since the main clientele of the latter are upland farmers.  This is because agroforestry is the most suitable farming technology for upland areas (Lasco, 1999).”

From this definition of Lasco (1999), we could note the following characteristics of agroforestry:

1. It involves two or more species of plants, at least one of which is a woody perennial.
2. It always has two or more outputs.
3. Its cycle is always longer than one year.
4. The simplest agroforestry system is more complex ecologically and economically than a monocropping system.
5. Ecological and economic interactions exist between or among woody and non-woody components.

Agroforestry is more than a set of prescriptions and system.  It is a discipline and an approach to land use that incorporates the complexities of sustainable natural resources management.  A successful agroforestry initiative will largely depend on a keen understanding of the characteristics of agroforestry.

Thoughts to promote positive action…

(Please visit, like and share Pro-EARTH Crusaders on Facebook or follow me at http://antonantonio.blogspot.com/ and http://twitter.com/EarthCrusader/)

REFERENCE:

Antonio, A. C., (2015). “Agroforestry: Concepts and Definitions”. Retrieved on November 8, 2015 from http://antonantonio.blogspot.com/2015/11/agroforestry-concepts-and-definitions.html

Villanueva, T. R., (2005). “Upland Ecosystem Management”. University of the Philippines Open University, Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines

Agroforestry: Concepts and Definitions

AGROFORESTRY: CONCEPTS AND DEFINITIONS

By Anton Antonio

November 7, 2015

Agroforestry or agro-sylviculture is a land use management system in which trees or shrubs are grown around or among crops or pastureland.  It combines agriculture and forestry technologies to create more diverse, productive, profitable, healthy, and sustainable land use systems.  There are other concepts and definitions of agroforestry, such as:

·         Agroforestry is a technical discipline whose main concern is to develop sustainable production systems.  It answers such questions as what crops/livestock combination to raise, or how soil and water can be conserved.  An agroforestry technology can be used not only by upland farmers but also by private individuals and corporations who want to develop upland areas.  Agroforestry is the primary technical support of social forestry since the main clientele of the latter are upland farmers.  This is because agroforestry is the most suitable farming technology for upland areas (Lasco, 1999).

·         Agroforestry is a sustainable land management system that increases the total yield of the land, combines the production of crops (including tree crops) and forest plants and/or animals simultaneously of sequentially on the same unit of land, and applies management practices that are compatible with the cultural practices of the local population (Bene, et. Al., 2977).

·         Agroforestry is a land use system that involves socially and ecologically acceptable integration of trees with agricultural crops and/or animals, simultaneously or sequentially, so as to get increased total productivity of plants and animals in a sustainable manner from a unit of farmlands, especially under conditions of low levels of technology inputs and marginal lands (Nair, 1993).

·         Agroforestry is a collective name for land use systems and technologies where woody perennials (trees, shrubs, bamboos, palms, etc.) are deliberately used in the same land management unit as agricultural crops and/or animals, either in some form of spatial arrangement or temporal sequence (Lundgren, 1982).

One of the feared impacts of climate change is food security.  The use of agroforestry concepts could definitely be a good tool and measure to increase agricultural productivity (both crops and livestock).  It is, therefore, important to study and understand agroforestry concepts and definitions.

Thoughts to promote positive action…

(Please visit, like and share Pro-EARTH Crusaders on Facebook or follow me at http://antonantonio.blogspot.com/ and http://twitter.com/EarthCrusader/)

REFERENCE:

Villanueva, T. R., (2005). “Upland Ecosystem Management”. University of the Philippines Open University, Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines

Scientific Consensus on Climate Change

SCIENTIFIC CONSENSUS ON CLIMATE CHANGE

By Anton Antonio

November 6, 2015

In a previous blog (titled: “Evidences of Climate Change”), the following evidences of climate change were mentioned:

1. Rising Temperatures;
2. Rising Sea Levels;
3. Melting Glaciers;
4. Melting Polar Caps;
5. Stronger Tropical Storms;
6. Stronger Hurricanes;
7. Hotter Heat Waves;
8. Widespread Droughts;
9. Uncontrolled Wildfires;
10. Frequent Flooding;
11. Mass Desertification; and,
12. Common Diseases.

From January 1991 to November 2012, there has been 13,950 peer-reviewed scientific articles, reports and studies on climate change with a total 33,690 authors.  Considering all these articles only 24 articles deny anthropogenic (meaning: man-made) climate change with a total or 34 authors… or a ratio of 1 in 1,000 believes that climate change is caused by human activities.  These articles largely attribute climate change to natural causes.  Considering, again, this disparity points to the scientific consensus that climate change is real and is primarily caused by man.

Climate Change Guide concluded the following from all of these articles, papers and reports: (1) In the scientific literature, global warming denial is clearly a visible minority; (2) The authors of the few rejecting papers tend to agree with, or even to cite, each other’s work; (3) Not including the authors themselves, only a handful of scientists cite the articles rejecting man-made climate change.  Those who do cite them do not themselves reject anthropogenic global warming; (4) The rejecting authors do not have an alternative theory to explain the observed warming that is taking place.  In fact, they do not even agree among themselves (no bandwagon here); and, (5) The vast majority of climate scientists accept the theory that mankind’s greenhouse gas emissions are causing climate change.

With all these and many more effects of climate change in the background, it is hard to think that climate change is not a reality and is indeed occurring.  Without a shred of doubt, climate change is a global issue that needs to be addressed sooner rather than later in order to prolong our planet’s great biodiversity.  If we don’t, over 100 million people will perish by 2030 and millions of entire species will be wiped out by 2050.

These evidences of climate change should be enough to awaken peoples of the world to think of contributing to the effort to combat and mitigate climate change.  Every little action and initiative is important to humankind’s survival. This is what the environmental science community is trying to tell everyone.  This is also the scientific consensus on climate change.

Thoughts to promote positive action…

(Please visit, like and share Pro-EARTH Crusaders on Facebook or follow me at http://antonantonio.blogspot.com/ and http://twitter.com/EarthCrusader/)

REFERENCE:

Antonio, A. C. (2015). “Climate Change is Real”. Retrieved on November 6, 2015 from http://antonantonio.blogspot.com/2015/11/climate-change-is-real_4.html

Climate Change Guide, (2015). “Evidence of Climate Change”.  Retrieved on November 6, 2015 from http://www.climate-change-guide.com/evidence-of-climate-change.html

Climate Change is Real

CLIMATE CHANGE IS REAL

By Anton Antonio

November 5, 2015

The biggest hurdle that mankind must have to leap over is his own attitude and belief system.  In spite of obvious changes in the weather conditions, there remains a substantial number of people who think that climate change is not real.  In the United States alone, their two-party system is divided on a clear dividing line between believers and deniers of climate change.  The deniers are still asking and, oftentimes, demanding proof.  Well… here’s a researched material for all you climate change deniers out there…

“EVIDENCE OF CLIMATE CHANGE…

There has been a great deal of incontrovertible evidence of climate change that simply can’t be ignored any longer.  The world has been gradually changing for the past years and most of these, unfortunately, are not even good changes at all.  On the contrary, the effects of climate change will be devastating to the human race along with every species on the planet.

Without doubt, there are several phenomena happening around the world right now that serve as physical evidence of climate change.  Needless to say, there are a lot of theory behind climate change, namely sophisticates climate models which describe (1) the greenhouse effect, (2) the roles of various greenhouse gases (along with their GWP), and (3) climate feedbacks.  Without further ado, here is a list of some of these changes that scientists are observing as we speak which act as evidence:

RISING TEMPERATURES – The ten hottest years ever recorded all took place since 1998, with the hottest one of all being 2014.  Clearly, the rising global temperature is strong evidence of climate change.  Since the 1880s, it has been noted that the Earth is continuously warming up, most of which took place in the 1970s.  During the 2000s, decline of the solar output happened, which resulted to a unique deep solar from 2007-2009.  Up to now, the Earth’s temperature is still rising.  The increasing temperature of the oceans is also an evidence of climate change.  Experts noted that the oceans are absorbing the sun’s heat in an increasing rate.  Warming has increased since the year 1969 wherein the oceans showed warming at 0.302 degrees Fahrenheit.  Incidentally, the increase in carbon dioxide in oceans has also led to ocean acidification.

RISING SEA LEVELS – A good evidence of climate change is the rising sea levels.  During the last century, sea levels rose by about 6.7 inches and now, the rate continues to accelerate.

MELTING OF GLACIERS AND POLAR ICE CAPS – The ice sheets, particularly those in Greenland and the Antarctic, are quickly melting.  In fact, the melting of glaciers happening around the world is actually worse than what scientists had predicted just a few years ago.  The withdrawal of the glacier formations in several parts of the Earth, particularly those in the Himalayas, Africa, Alps, Andes, Alaska, and Rockies as a reaction to the twentieth century global warming is yet another evidence of climate change.  Since 1966, the reduction of the snow cover has already reached the extent of about 10%.  Similarly, the melting of polar ice caps poses as another piece of evidence.  For the past decades, the Arctic ice has been lessening in a rapid rate, with the range and density continuing to decline.  Moreover, some scientists say the Arctic will become ice free by as early as 2020.  Its area reached its lowest in 2012.

OTHER DRASTIC CHANGES – Since the 1950s, high temperatures have been attributed as the cause behind the increasing instances of severe rainfall experiences in the United States.  Overall, extreme weather events which include tropical storms, hurricanes, heat waves, droughts, wildfires, and floods have been increasing in frequency and intensity around the world.  Mass desertification is drying up large areas of arable land in various parts around the world.  For instance, the Sahara Desert is enlarging by a rate of 48 kilometers per year.  Reports say that over 1 billion people are under threat from further desertification.  Diseases such a malaria and dengue fever are not only targeting more people, but are expanding to new areas as a result of higher temperatures.” --- Climate Change Guide

These are just the most basic evidences of climate change.  A wider research will reveal more.  So what more is needed for climate change deniers to change their minds?  Are not these enough evidences of climate change?  Are they still thinking if climate change is real?

Thoughts to promote positive action…

(Please visit, like and share Pro-EARTH Crusaders on Facebook or follow me at http://antonantonio.blogspot.com/ and http://twitter.com/EarthCrusader/)

REFERENCE:

Climate Change Guide, (2015). “Evidence of Climate Change”.  Retrieved on November 5, 2015 from http://www.climate-change-guide.com/evidence-of-climate-change.html

Peat Fires

PEAT FIRES

By Anton Antonio

November 4, 2015

Climate change-induced extreme weather conditions in the Philippines could be categorized into two types --- (1) hotter temperature and (2) stronger tropical cyclones coupled with an abnormal volume of precipitation.  Both temperature and storms could have devastating effects.  An increase in average temperature, together with the El Niño phenomenon will impact on the availability of fresh water which will eventually affect agricultural productivity and food security as well.  Abnormally strong tropical cyclones, on the other hand, can have immediate effects in terms of loss of life and property.  If we, Filipinos, think that these are the only problems we should worry about, well… think again.

The above-mentioned conditions are not the only cause for worry in the Philippines.  The Indonesian haze, although distant from Philippine shores, can also affect Filipinos especially when the country is visited by tropical cyclones.  This was very evident during Typhoon Lando (international name: Koppu).  As Typhoon Lando made a southeast to northwest pass over Luzon, it sucked-in air from southern-eastern Indonesia where peat fires were taking place.  This blanketed the western part of Mindanao up to some islands in the Visayan regions.  “Last night PAGASA came up with an advisory that the Philippines should expect at least three more tropical cyclones this year… possibly two this month and another one in December.” (Antonio, 2015)

At this point, it would perhaps be worth knowing what is causing haze in Indonesia.  The haze in Indonesia is caused by peat fires.  Indonesian farmers, for decades now, have been intentionally setting fires to clear away rainforest for farmland and produce commodities like palm oil, a popular ingredient in processed food and cosmetics.  The country’s small farmers are legally allowed to burn up to two hectares but, often, more is being actually burned to have more land use conversion into agriculture.  In the case of Indonesia, forest law enforcement is quite lax.  Problems, however, start when these fires occur in areas rich in peat which is a dense, soil-like mixture of partially decayed leaves and branches.  Fires fuelled by peat can proliferate uncontrollably, smoldering underground for weeks, feeding off the soil, releasing toxic pollutants and vast quantities of carbon dioxide and methane.  The problem with peat fires is that these can go into the soil and travel underground making the fire fighting task extremely difficult as the fires can surface anywhere.  And under El Niño conditions, peat fires are close to impossible to stop… as only continuous heavy downpour of rain can extinguish them.

Care for the environment is a must for everyone.  Haze caused by peat fires may impact on an entire region even as big as Asean… which is practically happening now.  On top of having to deal with the possibility of three more tropical cyclones this year, the Philippines will also have to deal with the possibility of haze caused by peat fires.

Thoughts to promote positive action…

(Please visit, like and share Pro-EARTH Crusaders on Facebook or follow me at http://antonantonio.blogspot.com/ and http://twitter.com/EarthCrusader/)

REFERENCE:

Antonio, A.C. (2015). “The Tarlac City Dike Narratives”. Retrieved on November 4, 2015 from http://antonantonio.blogspot.com/2015/11/the-tarlac-city-dike-narratives.html

Antonio, A.C. (2015). “Haze”. Retrieved on November 4, 2015 from http://antonantonio.blogspot.com/2015/10/haze.html

The Tarlac City Dike Narratives

THE TARLAC CITY DIKE NARRATIVES

By Anton Antonio

November 3, 2015

PAGASA (Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomic Services Administration has improved tremendously in their weather forecasting in the last three or four years.  They have been predicting weather systems in the country with regular accuracy.  Our weather bureau, incidentally, also has a Filipino name: Pangasiwaan ng Pilipinas sa Serbisyong Atmosperiko, Heopisiko, at Astronomiko… abbreviated as PAGASA which means “hope” in English.

PAGASA’s accuracy in weather prediction must be positively welcomed.  Their accuracy, however, could also be a legitimate cause for alarm insofar as Tarlaqueños living in Tarlac City are concerned.  Why?  Last night PAGASA came up with an advisory that the Philippines should expect at least three more tropical cyclones this year… possibly two this month and another one in December.  So what else is new?  The situation in the city is not quite stable if the following conditions remain… (1) If one, two or all of these tropical cyclones are as “wet” as Typhoon Lando; and (2) The breached portion of the Tarlac City dike is not repaired and fortified post haste.  Pag-asa or hope for the people of Tarlac City, in this situation, may prove to be a sad term if nothing is done to secure the city.

Sand bagging is just a palliative solution and may not hold in another Typhoon Lando (international name: Koppu) scenario which was a Category 5 storm accompanied by an abnormally large volume of precipitation.  Other engineering interventions must be made to secure the city.  Time is of the essence in this case and local government authorities must exercise a keen sense of urgency on this matter.  Social media was not too kind to our local government leadership after the Tarlac City dike got breached last month… judging from the largely negative narratives from Tarlac netizens (even as I took the liberty of censuring the unprintable in the commentaries below).  If nothing substantial is done to address this problem, we could most certainly expect far worse commentaries from Tarlaqueños… perhaps, less civil Tarlac City dike narratives.

Thoughts to promote positive action…

(Please visit, like and share Pro-EARTH Crusaders on Facebook or follow me at http://antonantonio.blogspot.com/ and http://twitter.com/EarthCrusader/)

THE TARLAC CITY DIKE NARRATIVES:

·         Mura siguro ang mga matrials na binili para ang sobra sa bulsa mapupunta.

·         Sandbag pa more! Stupid politicians!

·         Bakit po ata ytang bakal ing gewa da bukud mu simento at manipis pa keng plywood… Tipid pa more!

·         Dapat yung mga salarin jan sila and i sandbag.

·         See how crooked our government is?  Taga Tarlac ko pa mo!!! Buhay pa kayo!!! Niyda yo!!! Sana kunin na kayo ni Satanas!!!

·         Sino kaya ang maglalakas loob na painbestigahan yan?

·         These politicians have no conscience at all, they’re all thick faced!  What a horrible sight seeing these sand bags.  Why?  Is this gonna happen year after year?  What about people’s lives?  Don’t they care at all?  SHAME on them!

·         Hanggang pache-pache na lang yan?  Dapat managot and contratista na gumawa jan.

·         Bulsa pa more!! Nakakahiya na Tarlac!

·         Anong masasabi ng mga Municipal Engineers natin?  Paano naaprubahan ang ganitong project?  Dapat sa mga tiwaling inhinyero na nag-approve nito TANGGALAN NG LISENSYA.

·         Sadyang sino ang may sala sa mga inupo ninyong mga opisyales ng Tarlac City!

·         Ngayon alam nyo na kung saan napunta ang pondo ng Tarlac… sa susunod na election na kayo maningil…

·         Nung January ginawa yan, and now, sus kita ko hindi mga professionals ang mga gumawa.  Mamatulos la mo, grabe, nakakawalang gana ang umuwi pag ganyan.  Tarlac bulok!

·         Two for me, one for you!

·         Nokarin in budget na ning tete???!!!

·         Agyang nanu pa i-comment yu ngan, agyang malmyra ko pa, ala nakomang agawa.  Milyari na na ing disaster.  Ing ajakit yung makanyan ngeni misip na kayu king halalan nung ninu na talaga ing dapat manungkulan.  Mayap a abak ngan po.

·         Kasalanan at kapabayaan ng mga local government leaders yan ng Tarlac City.  Hindi dapat isisi sa president.  Dapat wag ng iboto mga present set of local leaders who are remised in thir duties.

·         Hindi po kasi nagtatanda ang ating mga voters.  Hindi po natuto for the past.  Alam naman na ang local government officer’s if it’s kurakot it’s always been kurakot.

·         Yan (ang) napapala ng botante sa panandalian(g) ginhawa.

·         Sana pos a darating na halalan, pumili po tayo ng mga kandidatong hindi SUB STANDARD.

·         Kung puro sandbag na lang lagi walang mangyayari.  Lahat yata ng project sa Tarlac palpak! Kailan nyo aayusin yan? Pag madami ng namatay?

·         Very disgusting sa lahat ng kumontrata ditto sa substandard na ginamit for Ninoy Aquino bridge. Nakakahiya sa totoo lang.  Sana magbigay ng pamsin ng nakatataas na gobyerno na may PUSO ito! Ayaw ko na talagang bumoto dito. Nakakahiya!

·         Nakakatakot pa baka may madisgrasya at buhay pa ang maging kapalit.  Knock on wood Panginoon sana maging maayos na lahat sa buong mundo. Nakita ko kahapon yan. Ang nipis ng pagkagawa at parang wala man bakal na ginamit para pang suporta.

·         Gamit nila pandikit jan glue sick… ay hindi, laway lang pala.  Kasi sa glue stick, gagastos pa. Sa laway, libre lang.

·         Sinisisi ninyo sa Pangulo eh trabaho ng local government na ilakad and pagpapaayos nyan.  Vote wise na sa susunod wag puro SAYA… ACTION MAN ANG KAILANGAN.

·         Wag nang ipagawa yan, sand bag na lang mas mainam total yearly naman nasisira eh. Yearly na lang din maglalagay ng sand bag mas tipid sa pondo… just saying.

·         Huwag na kayo umangal! Binoto nyo kasi mga hangal na politiko Palitan na sila.

·         Sino kaya ang gumawa nyan? Dapat ibaon din jan.

·         Sana sa darating na eleksyon piliing mabuti and mga mamumuno n gating lungsod.

·         Gawa Lunes! Sira Martes! Mahiya naman kayo! Kahit konti lang!

·         The dike project was clearly a result of substandard workmanship. No need to be a genius to discern that the people behind this project are the root of the problem.

·         Sana matutuna.

·         Hangga namu king sandbagging ing agyu yung gawan? Alang kwenta. Kababo ning agyu yung gawan. Nung deng penyali yung sand bag penyali yulang materyales para salese ya ing dike yu dakal la pa reng makinabang. Nananu la deng budget yu king munisipyu and provincial?  Ot ali reta ing ganitan yu para deng taung memelen ning Tarlac City tumula la kekayu.  Mesabi kayung city Tarlac River Dike yamu eye asalese. Makarine kayu.

·         A sorry po, pinagawa po ng mga kagalang-galang na opisyales ang dike sa ikabubuti ng bulsa nila. Hindi and taong bayan. Ang kakapal niyo!

·         Worthless politicians.

·         Kaya dapat po be wise karas ning iboboto keng tatagal mayor, gobernador o nanu pang kareng tatagal kandidato.

·         Yan ang Tarlac, maunlad diba?

·         Hay naku!

·         Naku po? Heto na naman. Kurakot na naman and dike budget. Utang ng utang daw. Utang na loob, bayan muna bago ibulsa.

·         Tooth pick mu ing kebit da king simentu kaya mengalasak ya! Kurakoy pa more! Tarlaquenos wake up!

·         Hopeless Tarlaquenos, din a natuto. We deserve the politicians we vore for. Tiis tiis na lang.

·         Ampaw ang pagkakagawa… magisip tayo mga kabalen kung sino and iboboto sa susunod na eleksyon.

·         Dapat pu sandbag na ing ikabot dam as matbe pa kesa concrete cement a gagawan da. Manakitan lang husto kanita.

·         Sana lahat maging aware sa nangyari. Magisip kung sino and tamang iboboto na maglilingkod sa ating lugar.

·         Di lang dapat magpuna. Magbigay din po sana tayo ng mga ideas natin para maging maayos ang lugar natin. Salamat po.

·         Yearly ginagawa ang dike na yan.

·         Ninung engineer a mamurit-murit a ginawa kanyan! Pinatung da ing semento ala yang bakal. Hustisya! Kurakot to the max!

·         Wow! Katakot! Tuknang n asana ing uran.

·         And it boils down to using substandard materials para may pang SOP sa mga mangungurakot! Bago maraming mapahamak sa mga di kanaisnais na mga gawain ninyo, makarma sana kayo! Kung wala pa rin epekto sa into ito, may your tribe rot in hell!

·         Dapat ikulong ang mga involved na tao. Puro kurakot. Dapat silang magbayad for not doing the right thing.

·         Vote wisely kababayan! Wag na iboto ang mga kurakot na nanunungkulan ngayon!

·         Dapat siguru potang gagawan de yan magbante la reng tau para istung mali gagawan da sumbong la ka PNoy.

·         Bitay ang katapat nyan.

·         Bawat taon nalang lagi nasisira yung tulay. Nasunog na ang Cut2 dati… balak ba nila burahin lugar naming?

·         Anyang mig bakasyon ken king Tarlac gagawan da neh yang dike at ditak ya pa ing damage. Ot lalo yang meragul ing panga damage na? Bombay a panga gawa!

·         Alang meg inspect keng panga gawa? Ot midinan lang clearance?

·         Munta tamo po king dalan magrally tamo po. Kung keni ala po malyari keng mararapat nung pane namo po komento ala po kwenta. Gawa tamo aksyon. Ali mo po aligasyun.

·         “Project of a Corrupt Public Servant” should ne the banner posted on that dike.

·         Pinakamakapangyarihan pa rin ang mamamayan na syang nagluluklok sa mga pulitiko… kaya pag-isipang mabuti kung makakatulong or hindi ang isang pulitiko na iboboto kapag nanalo na ito. Sayang ang boto natin kapag napunta lang sa mga manunungkulang ganid sa pera ng taumbayan.

·         Ala ngang bakal, inilagay lang yung semento. Wow use your kokote naman, sir contractor.

·         Poor construction.

·         Dapat sa election mamili sa mga taong takot sa Dios.

·         Since 1965 ing dike a yan sasamasnan da ne reng manungkulan king Tarlac.  Obat hanggang ngeni 2015 sasamasnan de pa? Balakung dacal lang biasa king Tarlac? Nukarin la retang byasa? Bukarin la biasa reng manungkulan a ren obat hanggang ngeni problema da pa rind eng tau king Tarlac? Nanu ing gewa yu kareng budget a makalaan keni?

·         Nakakahiya yung Tarlac dahil sa mga kurakot.

·         Wala nag magyayari dyan. Gawa ngayon, sira bukas. Kahit anong sabihin natin bingi sila. Bastat pagkakaperahan wala silang pakialam! Hindi naman sila ang mapeperwisyo kasi nakatira sila sa matibay na bahay!

·         Just vote wisely pero ala na sigurung masalese basta pera ing iisipan. Di Masaya na la. Kulang ya pa siguru ing milyaring a yan para makaisip la deng kawatan na ning bayan.

·         Naku po. Sinadya nalang ata na hindi talaga matibay ang pagkagawa para may project uli na paulit-ulit. Ilang taon na po yan lagging ganyan!

·         Expert nga sila almost every year nasisira means more funds more kurakot. Buti pa baboy pag busog na humihinto na.

·         I don’t see any reinforcing bars at all. Ano yan, pinalitada lang?

·         Oh my, parang cake na nilagyan ng icing anf dike.

·         This is a government project, there should be plans and estimates before construction was started. Now that the damage is done and easily seen, it shouldn’t be a problem running after the contractors and whoever the project engineer/manager are on the government side who accepted this project.

·         A disaster waiting to happen?

·         Bakit kaya di yan maayos-ayos?

Note:  The names of the netizens who made these comments on Facebook were not included since there was no prior consent secured from them.

Solar Powered Railways

SOLAR POWERED RAILWAYS

By Anton Antonio

November 2, 2015

The railroad, as a mass transport system, started in 1810 in the United States.  The efficiency and relatively lower cost compared to other modes of land-based transport made it acceptable to other parts of the world.  India adopted the railways as their main system of transportation.  India, however, is having second thoughts about the sustainability of their railroad transport system which is largely dependent on fossil fuel.  Please read…

“INDIA INVESTIGATES MOVING FROM FOSSIL FUEL-POWERED RAILWAYS TO CLEAN RAILWAYS TO CLEAN SOLAR ENERGY…

India has recently stepped it up in terms of the government’s support of renewable energy through its effort in moving from coal powered railways to clean solar panels for electricity and fuel consumption.  The Indian Railways is one of the largest railway systems in the world, consisting of over 115,000 km of tracks, over 65,436 km of routes, and 1,172 stations.  Annually, it has the capacity to transport over 8 billion people, which is roughly around 23 million passengers per day.  As such, the Indian Railways or known as IR, requires massive energy expenditures – specially 17.5 kWh of electricity per year, and over 90,000 liters of diesel.  Fuel bills are actually the 2^nd largest expense of the IR, coming only next to employee salaries.  With rising process of fuel imports, the Indian government has begun focusing on other forms of energy to power the coaches, specifically solar energy.  Recently, the first solar powered coach was tested, which is a non-airconditioned coach with collar panels installed on its rooftop.  The Rewari-Sitapur passenger train was able to generate 17 kWh for an entire day, which was enough to cover only the lighting load of the coach.  Two other coaches have been fitted with solar panels, but are yet to begin their testing stage.  These said coaches belong to 2 narrow-gauge trains for the Pathankot-Jogindemagar route in the Kangra Valley and the Kalka-Shimla section.  This massive project and potential move to clean energy is touted to solve two major problems faces by the IR today: rising energy prices and the threats to environment caused by the massive use of fossil fuels.  Ideally, the trains will still be powered by traditional diesel-run engines, but the lighting of the passenger coaches will utilize solar energy.  According to a Northern Railway official, there is a total of 40 square meter of space on a typical coach rooftop.  The said coach was fitted with 12 solar panels over 24 square meters, but the remaining 16 square meters can still accommodate 16 more panels for more energy production.  Officials say that India has a huge potential for solar power, and the installation of solar panels are not limited to the train’s rooftops, but can also include those of the railway’s buildings to provide renewable energy for its infrastructure.  The typical cost for fitting panels on one coach is Rs 3.90 lakh, and its return on investment per year is Rs 1.24 lakh.  The potential savings of millions of dollars can also include that of foreign exchange reserves in terms of diesel imports.  Aside from solar power’s obvious economic benefits for the IR, the use of clean collar power also reduces their emission of carbon dioxide by over 200 tonnes in a year.  Currently, the Indian government is planning to create a solar policy that would lead the way to the production of 1000 megawatts of solar power in the next 5 years.  The main aim of the said policy states that by the year 2020, the IR’s renewable energy production will be able to provide at least 10% of the entire enterprise’s energy consumption need.  Today, the project is aimed at a few rooftops lighting up a few non-airconditioned coaches.  Future testing is still needed to understand the economics of the proposal before it is implemented on a larger scale.  So far, results have been promising and further positive data might just lead the Indian Railways to utilize the use of clean solar energy for all of its coaches.” --- Tek-think.com

The Philippines has embarked on a railroad rehabilitation program to fix both north and south lines (to and from Metro Manila).  At this point of the program, it may be wise to consider clean solar energy to power before the program is finally completed.  This will not only revive this efficient mass transportation system but push it forward to the needs of the future.  Like India, why can’t the Philippines have solar powered railways.

Thoughts to promote positive action…

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REFERENCE:

Tek-think.com, (2015). “India Investigates Moving from Fossil Fuel-Powered Railways to Clean Railways to Clean Solar Energy”.  Retrieved on November 2, 2015 from http://tek-think.com/2015/06/14/india-investigates-moving-from-fossil-fuel-powered-railways-to-clean-solar-power/