SRE's "Mayon Turbo Stove" a Winner in World Bank Competition

The Mayon Turbo Stove ("The Poor Man's Gas Stove") - a collaborative project between Sustainable Rural Enterprise (SRE) and REAP Canada - was one of the winners under the Clean Energy Category in the World Bank 2006 Panibagong Paraan Competition held in Metro Manila last May 26-27. The theme of the competition was "Development with Equity." The award is worth PHP1 million to promote the use of a clean-burning stove that uses rice hulls and other agricultural waste for fuel, the residue (carbonized rice hull) of which is also used as a soil conditioner. It is also affordable, portable, and can be fabricated locally.

Out of almost 1,000 entries, 87 finalists were chosen. The finalists displayed their projects in exhibit booths which attracted a huge crowd and elicited comments of awe and appreciation from the exhibit-goers. Fifty-seven entries were picked as winners by a panel of judges.

"Three out of three isn't a bad batting average!" exclaims Ms. Perla Manapol, president of SRE, referring to two other World Bank Development Marketplace awards that the NGO has previously won. The latest award is particularly significant in that the price of cooking fuel has almost doubled in the past 15 months, forcing households in rural communities to forage for fuel in forests and mangroves. "Imagine the destructive effect of firewood-gathering on forests and mangroves in landslide- and tsunami-prone Philippines," Perla adds. "Imagine the increased burden of firewood-gathering on women, and the increase in respiratory ailments from smoke inhalation."

SRE will use the award money to fabricate 500 units of the stove, which will then be sold, at a 50% discount, to the 500 neediest families in 10 barangays. A portion of the award money will be used to launch an education-information-communication campaign - including monitoring usage, advantages and disadvantages - that will be carried out by graduate students of SRE partner Aklan State University's Agricultural Extension Division. The proceeds will be plowed back into fabricating additional units and in replicating the project in other rural communities. To accommodate areas where rice is not available, SRE has successfully run tests on other fuels including corn cobs and coconut shells.

Noting that the theme of the 2006 competition was Development with Equity, Perla points out that for most NGOs who carry out their work "in poverty and obscurity," the World Bank initiative is often the only way to "show off" their innovations. "We do not have a PR budget to let the rest of the world know what we are doing out there. You might call this award publicity and promotion with equity!" Indeed, within days after the competition, SRE was deluged with calls and inquiries - even down payments! - on how to acquire a unit.

One hullava stove? "You betcha!" Manapol beams.