The Association of Negros Oriental Public Information Officers (ANOPIO) was held at Lawak Kauswagan July 9 focusing on the University’s existing solar and hydroponics facilities.
Attended by ANOPIO members from Canlaon City in the north to Basay in the south, the meeting highlighted what the future holds for Foundation University in the light of its solar panel and hydroponics features.
Also in attendance were representatives from the Philippine Information Agency, Department of Interior & Local Government, Dumaguete City Tourism Office, and the Sidlakan Tour Guide Association.
In an article for Civitas Quarterly (CQ), Zeph Repollo has written that FUs 32KW “on grid” solar project, the largest non experimental solar installation in the region, is the first for a University in Dumaguete and serves as an example in the academic community to do the right thing. “The on grid solar system is specially designed for a place like FU, which has steady and reliable access to the main power grid. It is customized to offer the most economical advantages, better described as a Zero Battery System.”
The hydroponics system built by FU is a modular one and could be replicated by local farmers. It uses a non-circulating system making it independent from electricity use. Housed in the College of Agriculture, the system allows the circulation of nutrients from the aquaculture ponds. Water from the social garden pond is allowed to flow using gravity to a location near the rooftop garden 3 stories high. The water is then pushed back up to a tank using an airlift pump.
“FU Atong Dalan”- a video presentation of University life was shown to give attendees a glimpse of what an academic life FU has to offer with its wide array of program offerings. An open floor discussion was lead by College of Agriculture Acting Dean Robert Kleine Koerkamp and Engr. Augusto Tebio, the university’s electrical engineer to answer questions on the solar and hydroponics systems.
An education campus tour was held highlighting the solar and hydroponics systems with sidetrips on Museo Vicente (FUs own museum), the LG Sinco IT Center which houses 200 units of Apple Mac computers and the Greyhound Television and Radio Broadcast Studios where in house production are underway.
ANOPIO members were also given a preview of Civitas Quarterly- FUs very own e-magazine now downloadable for free via iTunes and Google’s Play Store. The first issue has been out in the market since March of this year and was launched during the Commencement Exercises at Sofia Soller Sinco Hall. The second issue was released at the ANOPIO meeting for the android version while its iTunes counterpart will be due for release within two weeks.
A sumptuous lunch closed the meeting with a salad menu fresh from the Aquaponics harvest and local ingredients courtesy of VG Sinco Farms of the University. (Febby Marton Rule)
