ARECOP PTA & CCP Meeting, January 22-26, Chiang-Mai

Approtech Asia is the Country Contact Point (CCP) of the Asia Regional Cookstove Program (ARECOP) in the Philippines. Other network member-countries are Indonesia, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Vietnam, Sri Lanka and Nepal. The Planning-Technical-Advisory (PTA) Meeting will include country network members while the CCP meeting will involve only the CCPs in the member-countries. Both meetings will look at the accomplishments of the CCPs in each country for the past 12 months and plans for future activities. A regional plan will be finalized for 2007 which is also the end of funding for ARECOP. The meeting will be held on January 22-26, 2007 at Princes Hotel in Chiang-Mai, Thailand.

International Seminar-Workshop on Food Processing and Industry Development, October 4-24, Metro Manila, Philippines

Ten participants representing the government agencies and the business sector in Fiji, China, Myanmar, Namibia, Philippines, Vietnam and Sri Lanka learned technologies in the processing, packaging and commercialization of meat, fish, fruits and vegetables and coconut-based products. The hands-on training experience was conducted in Metro Manila using facilities of the Department of Science and Technology and the Food Development Center. The participants surveyed the processed products in supermarkets and in the international food exhibition at the World Trade Center. Study visits were arranged at the Selecta Ice Cream, Moondish and Hi-Las Processing Plant. See pictures.

Improved Kiln Construction, August 9-19, Davao, Philippines

Two Indonesian experts on improved kiln construction conducted the training in the construction of Iwate and Yoshimura Kiln for high quality charcoal production to four Filipinos from Approtech Asia, Municipality of Tupi, Habitat for Humanity Foundation in the Philippines and the Municipality of Paranaque, Metro Manila in Matina, Davao, Philippines from August 9-19. The participants are expected to construct their own kiln in their respective areas and produce hi-quality charcoal to be sold together with the fuel-saving and energy-efficient improved Mabaga charcoal stove. These technologies are included in our green cooking energy technology package which is a profitable business for private entrepreneurs or community organizations or cooperatives.

ARECOP Improved Cookstove Program in the Philippines

Mabaga charcoal stove has captured the market in Cebu and Metro Manila. The stove is popularized by the ambulant food vendors who participated in the pilot project of Approtech Asia and UNDP Regional Energy Program for Poverty Reduction (REP-PoR) entitled, "Ambulant Food Vendors: Energy-Efficient Stove and Healthy, Hygienic Food - A Pilot Project for the Urban Entrepreneurial Poor in the Philippines". Less than 1,000 Mabaga stoves have been shipped to Manila from Iloilo Pottery Crafts and Trade Center in 10 months. Mahal Ko Bayan Ko Movement sells the stove in Nayong Pilipino and the Quezon City Memorial Circle. In Cebu, less than 500 units of Mabaga have been solved by vendors and another 400 units are ready for shipment from Cabance Pottery in Marbel, South Cotabato.