Ice Machine and Water Purification System
A German Cooperation Program of the German Embassy in Manila, Philippines
The need for clean water and refrigeration
With funds from the German Cooperation Program facilitated by the German Embassy in Manila, RIC was able to realize a Food Security Project for the benefit of the communities living on Tol and its surrounding islands. This involved installing a water purification system and an ice machine to ensure the safe transport of fresh fish and produce from local fishermen and farmers.
Due to limited electricity and a lack of freezers for storing fish and farm products, the machine’s ice is especially valuable. It helps keep fish and local products fresh for sale during the long transportation to the main island of Weno under the tropical sun.
With the ice machine and water purifier, the community can now buy a bag of ice for $4.50 on their island, instead of spending $75-$95 on an expensive boat trip across the lagoon to Weno to purchase ice and drinking water.
Three reasons led to the installation of the water purification system and ice machine on the Philadelphia Christian School grounds. First, the school grounds are located near an easily accessible dock with staff available for maintenance. Secondly, the school requires drinking water for the students. Thirdly, the sale of ice and water provides local funding to support school materials and expenses for Philadelphia Christian School.
The building process
The construction started after COVID restrictions were lifted in 2023 and was completed by July 2024, whereby all materials were transported across the lagoon in a 40-horsepower motorboat.
Mr. Thony Magangat, our RIC Construction Manager, his assistant Mr. TM Yos Tosimichy, Mr. MK Yos, Mr. Kenot Ken, and other young men made significant contributions to installing the water and ice facilities on the school grounds. All the cement blocks were made locally, purchased from the school board chairman, Senior Pastor Takeo Kumo.
Waiting for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) staff to conduct their annual water quality evaluations is also challenging, as crossing the open lagoon by boat to reach our premises requires good weather.
