DOST’s solar – powered water system tech provides clear and safe drinking water in Aklan

Madalag, Aklan- Clean, safe drinking water is now flowing for at least 50 households in the Akeanon-Bukidnon indigenous community in Brgy. Medina, Madalag, Aklan through the deployment of SAFEWTRS, a compact, solar-powered treatment system.

SAFEWTRS, a technology developed by the DOST-Industrial Technology Development Institute (DOST-ITDI), is a mobile, compact, and solar-powered system designed to process freshwater from sources such as rivers, lakes, and rainwater into safe and potable drinking water.

This initiative is part of the Department of Science and Technology Aklan (DOST Aklan) and Aklan State University’s (ASU) project, “Empowering Akeanon-Bukidnon Communities through Science and Technology (EAST) Initiatives,” which aims to improve the quality of life of the indigenous peoples, specifically the Akeanon-Bukidnon community, in selected barangays of Madalag, Aklan.

One of the beneficiaries of the said project is Brgy. Medina, which was also identified as one of the Unserved and Underserved Areas (UUAs) in Aklan as of 2025, with residents commonly relying on spring water for drinking.

To ensure the community can effectively utilize and maintain the equipment, DOST-ITDI conducted a two-day training on the operation and maintenance of the system for local residents.

The deployment of SAFEWTRS is expected to improve access to clean drinking water for the beneficiaries in the barangay while promoting environmental sustainability through the use of renewable energy and appropriate technology.

Initiatives such as this reflect DOST’s continuing commitment to champion science, technology, and innovation as tools for inclusive development. By bringing appropriate and sustainable technologies to communities such as Brgy. Medina, DOST empowers local residents and helps build more resilient communities. (VMMPoncedeLeon, MDVillanueva/DOST Aklan)

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘋𝘦𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘚𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘛𝘦𝘤𝘩𝘯𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘺 (𝘋𝘖𝘚𝘛) 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘺’𝘴 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘪𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘴𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦, 𝘵𝘦𝘤𝘩𝘯𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘺, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘯𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘥𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘗𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴. 𝘛𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘤 𝘱𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘮𝘴, 𝘋𝘖𝘚𝘛 𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘚&𝘛 𝘥𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘥𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘱𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵—𝘥𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘰𝘭𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘹𝘪𝘮𝘪𝘻𝘦 𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘤 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘰𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘣𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘧𝘪𝘵𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘍𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘰.

#DOSTWesternVisayas #DOSTAklan #OneDOST4U #SolutionsAndOpportunitiesForAll