A Farmers Passion For Biogas Technology Turns To Sweet-Smelling Success and Advocacy

Controlling the odor from pigpens has been the challenge for many swine raisers, especially in urban areas. Unknown to many, PCAKRDs Magsasaka-Siyentista (MS) Felimon `Boy Santander from Mandug, Davao City, a swine raiser and a biogas advocate, has come up with an alternative and environment-friendly farming technology to combat. MS Santander constructed his own modified biogas digester in his backyard in 1995. It eliminated the unpleasant odor coming from the pigpen, at the same time provided a free source of cooking gas. He also started to promote biogas and provide free file to his neighbors. Consequently, other pigpen owners requested Santanders assistance in constructing their own biogas digester. MS Santanders modified digesters features are simple. It uses concrete materials. His digesters range from 2m3 to 20m3. Through his modified biogas digester, Santander has proven that biogas technology can also be used in small-scale backyard pigpens. MS Santander, a political science graduate, has been a government employee for eight years as a Sangguniang Bayan technical staff. During those years, swine raising was his hobby and source, of additional income. It never occurred to him that such would redeem him later he ran and lost the race for an elected position. Needing to have ends meet, he resorted to his backyard pigpen and maximized the potential of his small livelihood. He self-trained; did lots of research to probe on animal diseases, breeding, and production. Its not unlikely for him to pursue wine raising full time. His parents raised all eight siblings through income derived from swine raising. His skills in constructing modified biogas digester gained popularity not only in Davao City but also in Davao del Sur, Compostela Valley Province, Davao del Norte, Bukidnon, Capiz, and in other parts of the country. He (lid this by conducting technology clinics and fora through the help of Southern Mindanao Agriculture and Resources Research and Development Consortium (SMAKRDEC).
Popularity: 3% Popularity: 3% Posted on May 2nd, 2009 under Livestock, Technology. Tags: Biogas, Digester, Pigs, Swine. RSS 2.0 feed. Leave a response, or trackback.

14 Responses to A Farmers Passion for Biogas Technology Turns To Sweet-Smelling Success and Advocacy
1. edgar s. matias Says:
June 27th, 2009 at 5:34 pm

I am a interested to follow your footsteps. I am a retired office worker and i decided to go back to the province (ilocos norte) to develop my own farm to serve as my source of income in my retirement. I have a 20 heads piggery and i want to utilize their waste to become my source of

fuel in cooking in the farm. How can i get a design of your biodigester with a 20 head piggery. Thank you and may your advocacy spread in Ilocos. 2. Rico Alegre Says:

November 8th, 2009 at 5:04 am

I am interested in the small -scale Bio-Digester design. Where I can I get it. Or please send me a soft copy of it thru email (ricovalegre@instrumentationtechnologies.com). Maraming Salamat, Rico 3. azel tolentino Says:

December 20th, 2009 at 3:38 pm

I am a small hog raiser in Mindoro, I want to know if u can share your design of bio digester it will reslly help me and my neighbors. God Bless!! azel tolentino 4. Salven Says: Hi, How can i contact Mr. Santander? I hope to get in touch with him. Salven 09177051605 5. ramier Says:

March 10th, 2010 at 7:37 pm

March 11th, 2010 at 1:34 am

I have a backyard piggery in San Quintin, Pangasinan, please provide me a copy of your modified biogas digester it will truly help us with my neighbors. Thanks and God Bless!! ramier mondano 6. melvin Says:

June 27th, 2010 at 11:21 pm

masyado akong intresado sa biogas digester na ito. nais kung humingi ng karampatang ideya para sa pag gawa ng ganitong teknolohiya. saan po ba ako maaring mag inquire sa bagay na ito? maraming salamat po sa inyong tulong. 7. leonardcagampang Says:
July 21st, 2010 at 12:51 am

My wife & I have just started a small backyard piggery in Dagohoy, Bohol using local breeds. I am very much interested in your modified Bio-Gas digester. Could you please send us a copy of your design? (for a fee, maybe?. hope its affordable), Thank you in advance. 8. Balyeku Michael Says:

September 6th, 2010 at 8:58 am

I am interested in the small -scale Bio-Digester deisign. Where I can I get it. Or please send me a soft copy of it thru email: imageusmedia@gmail.com 9. Manolo de Lumban Says: Dear Mr. Santander: I am pushing for an early retirement next year as government employee. Reading your advocacy, I am very much interested to construct small bio-digester for our small backyard piggery and shared it with my neighbors in the barrio. Right now, i have 23 heads as fattener and 3 sows. Iwill appreciate it very much if you could send me relative information on the structural cost of the bio-digester. You can send the information thru my email atmanolo.delumban@gmail.com. Thank you very much and more power! God bless. Sincerely yours, Manolo 10. Rey Lijauco Says:

November 28th, 2010 at 4:20 pm

December 2nd, 2010 at 1:01 am

dear mr. biogas specialist, at present backyard raising 21 fatteners and 2 sows, busy planning to expand early next year to 5 sows. too much interested in renewable energy like your modified biogas digester design. whats the ideal digester for me? hope youll send me necessary technical and financial infos at anongsarap@yahoo.com highly appreciating your tech know how, sir. 11. Rolf P. Achas Says:

April 9th, 2011 at 6:08 am

Dear Mr. Santander, I am very interested on the biogas digester but i only have 5 sows for my piglet production and Im not sure when I can increase. Is there a digester for my present population? If there is, may I ask for your advice on how I can obtain such design? Thank you very much for your time. 12. abadnan Says:

May 27th, 2011 at 5:09 am

dear sir i am retired man and doing the consultancy job we have aworst energy crises in our coutry for my own experence iwant to start small scale bio digester would you like to send me a soft coppy of this prosses thanks for your time 13. Mark Anthony A. Pogoy Says:
September 5th, 2011 at 10:04 pm

I am Mark Anthony from Bukidnon, please e-mail the contact number of Mr. Santander. thank you and more power! MAAP Garden and Farm 14. Charlie Taynan Says: Dear Mr. Santander please send me in my email your design for bio digester, and i am very interested in applying it, thanks and more power.

December 3rd, 2011 at 11:43 pm

BIOGAS: An Old Technology Now Reconsidered in Ifugao

Cost a determinant in trending our way of life has made some Ifugao folks reconsider the adoption of old technologies. The cost of kitchen fuel (LPG) has been affordable even to small farmers some years ago. Now, the price of LPG has skyrocketed so much that many started to search for less costly sources of kitchen fuel. Previously, backyard livestock raisers did not mind so much the effects of their backyard livelihood to their neighbors and the environment particularly the foul smell emanating from pig pens. However, burdened in their home budgeting, they have now started to appreciate the merits of establishing their self-generated kitchen fuel the Biogas. Some pig pen owners have visited the PSTC Ifugao inquiring about the technology which has been implemented by the office some years ago. The following project showcases the benefits of having one. The Biogas Generation and Utilization II Project, established in January 2003, located at Halog, Nayon, Lamut, Ifugao, with Aquilina M. Saguilot as the cooperator/beneficiary, can be considered as a successful project on the basis that it is still functional until now. This is a replication of an earlier project established in Payawan, Lamut, Ifugao which was designed by the engineers of the Nueva Viscaya State University (NVSU) in Bayombong, Nueva Viscaya under the Deanship of Edwin P. Ramos of the College of Engineering and Orlando P. Espirito of the College of Agriculture. Since the start of the operation of the Biogas project in August 2003, the project has not

encountered any problem except for occasional maintenance in the gas lines due to clogging. The gas lines get clogged on portions where there is a sag in the plastic hose that blocks the passage of gas which are easily cleared by pumping out the liquid using hand air pumps or compressors. The heavy duty stoves have to be regularly maintained due to wear and tear. As to the presence of foul smell it is observed that the smell emanates in the piggery but not from the Biogas System. With the establishment of the project, the Saguilot family has been saved from the acquisition of two (2) LPG tanks monthly. Moreover, the by-product of the biogas which is the composted swine waste is being used as potting medium for seedlings of eggplant, ampalaya, ornamental plants and supplemental fertilizer for their ampalaya and eggplant plantation. In fact, the documentation of the Biogas project and the cooperators ampalaya plantation speaks for itself. Cost a determinant in trending our way of life has made some Ifugao folks reconsider the adoption of old technologies. The cost of kitchen fuel (LPG) has been affordable even to small farmers some years ago. Now, the price of LPG has skyrocketed so much that many started to search for less costly sources of kitchen fuel. Previously, backyard livestock raisers did not mind so much the effects of their backyard livelihood to their neighbors and the environment particularly the foul smell emanating from pig pens. However, burdened in their home budgeting, they have now started to appreciate the merits of establishing their self-generated kitchen fuel the Biogas. Some pig pen owners have visited the PSTC Ifugao inquiring about the technology which has been implemented by the office some years ago. The following project showcases the benefits of having one. The Biogas Generation and Utilization II Project, established in January 2003, located at Halog, Nayon, Lamut, Ifugao, with Aquilina M. Saguilot as the cooperator/beneficiary, can be considered as a successful project on the basis that it is still functional until now. This is a replication of an earlier project established in Payawan, Lamut, Ifugao which was designed by the engineers of the Nueva Viscaya State University (NVSU) in Bayombong, Nueva Viscaya under the Deanship of Edwin P. Ramos of the College of Engineering and

Orlando P. Espirito of the College of Agriculture. Since the start of the operation of the Biogas project in August 2003, the project has not encountered any problem except for occasional maintenance in the gas lines due to clogging. The gas lines get clogged on portions where there is a sag in the plastic hose that blocks the passage of gas which are easily cleared by pumping out the liquid using hand air pumps or compressors. The heavy duty stoves have to be regularly maintained due to wear and tear. As to the presence of foul smell it is observed that the smell emanates in the piggery but not from the Biogas System. With the establishment of the project, the Saguilot family has been saved from the acquisition of two (2) LPG tanks monthly. Moreover, the by-product of the biogas which is the composted swine waste is being used as potting medium for seedlings of eggplant, ampalaya, ornamental plants and supplemental fertilizer for their ampalaya and eggplant plantation. In fact, the documentation of the Biogas project and the cooperators ampalaya plantation speaks for itself. (mbmc)

Biogas technology: environment friendly alternative energy resources

One of the recommended sources of alternative energy to the food industry by Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCARRD) during the 8th Philippine Food Expo was the biogas digester system of MS Felimon Boy Santander. Biogas digester system uses crop residues, human and animal excreta and other organic wastes, hence, making it environmental friendly and affordable to the small and medium scale group who wants to avail the system. Biogas can be utilized as fuel for engine, gas stove, mantle lamp, refrigerator and freezer, industrial steam boiler in food processing, brooding lamp as heat source for animal pens; sludge for fertilizer ( in liquid or solid form) for plant and agricultural crops, mushroom culture, dipping media for seed soaking; feeds for freshwater fish,

vermiculture, feed supplement; and as soil conditioner. Odor of swine raisers pigpen is a problem that needs solution because it disturbs other people in the community. MS Boy Santander did come up with a solution to use biogas technology in his backyard pigpens eliminating the smell which the neighbors always complained. As a result, he hit two birds at a time because he provides fuel too not only to his house but also to the neighbors and the foul smell is gone. Success to advocacy After a successful self-research on how to modify biogas digester that would fit the needs of small and medium scale group, MS Boy Santanders biogas digester gained popularity from the barangays to the provinces in Davao City and neighboring provinces as well as to the national and international group. With the help of SMARRDEC, Department of Agriculture, KM FITS Center, he further his knowledge and trainings on biogas digester system. At present, he had more than one hundred advocates on biogas digester that also provide fuel to the farthest of kilometer away. He had also consultancy on International Community Red Cross (ICRC). And after the TechnoMart, he had been endorsed to join the four day study mission in Korea funded by Asian Productivity Organization (APO). He believes that the best waste management utilization must start at the lowest level of the community.

ITDI partners with LGUs for nature-friendly biogas electricity device

By MELODY M. AGUIBA September 26, 2011, 12:54am

MANILA, Philippines The Industrial Technology Development Institute (ITDI) is partnering with local government units (LGUs) for the commercialization of a biogas digester that supplies nature-friendly gas to small and medium piggery farms. ITDI has developed a biogas digester kit that is not only portable but also easy-to-use for common piggery owners with its Do It Yourself (DIY) unit. There is a need to develop more environment friendly and more cost competitive biogas digester technologies for backyard piggeries, said Romeo M. Cabacang, ITDI -Department of Science and Technology (DoST) Environment and Biotechnology chief. Aside from eliminating the leacheate, the liquid discharged from biodegradable wastes, a biogas digester eliminates foul odor in a farm, thereby reducing air pollution. The improved DIY biogas digester of ITDI has a liquefied gas storage capacity of 1,600 liters. Since biogas for cooking contains hydrogen sulfide (H2S), a poisonous and flammable gas, ITDI

is introducing its new digester, which incorporates scrubbers, that eliminates presence of hydrogen sulfide. For the convenience of consumers, an automatic flaring system is incorporated into the cooking unit. It has an ability to operate at a higher manure-water ratio making it more cost efficient. ITDI will develop kits for sale to interested adapters, while the drums can be sourced from surplus drum dealers. The kits will be made available in selected LGUs and DOST regional offices, said Cabacang. The biogas digester is part of ITDI's Municipal Solid Waste Management Technology (MSWMT). ITDI also seeks to commercialize the hybrid composting and biomethanation technology. This facility produces biogas and high quality organic fertilizer, which makes for the facility's increased economic feasibility. There is also a plastic recycling technology. This involves a styro oven or plastic densifier (causing thinning of the plastic) which has a plastic melting capacity of 50 kilos per batch. Densifying plastics can produce novelty and usable products, although these products may have limited markets. Recycled or melted plastic bags may be used for blending with asphalt concrete. There's a huge market for waste plastics. It has better asphalt application performance quality and already has a proven technology abroad, said Cabacang. The National Solid Waste Management Council is set to pilot test the use of melted plastic for eventual national applications. Given its viability, plastics as asphalt mix may open up a huge market for unclean recycled plastics.

Announcements

6TH NATIONAL TRAINING-WORKSHOP ON BIOGAS TECHNOLOGY SUCCESS!!!!!!!!. The center is planning to have a one-day seminar regarding smallscale(backyard farms) biogas this May. Interested participants may contact our office or send us email at biogas.technology.cvsu@gmail. com and we will keep you posted regarding this event. Thank You!