The Philippine-German Photovoltaic Pumping Project is part of of a worldwide research and development program carried out in seven countries, one of which is the Philippines. The program involves close cooperation with national and local water and energy authorities, universities and manufacturers of photovoltaic pumping equipment. Photovoltaic pumping (PVP) is an attractive solution for pumping water in unelectrified areas. PVP Systems utilize the energy of the solar radiation to pump water from a well, a spring or any other source to an elevated reservoir from where the water will be distributed to the consumers. The solar generator converts the sunlight directly into electricity by means of the photovoltaic effect. The direct current (DC) generated by the solar panels can directly drive the DC-motorpump. The solar panels, with no moving parts, are environmentally harmless and can easily last for more than twenty years, providing substantial savings on fossil fuels and other operation costs. This proves the technical and economical viability and social acceptance of solar pumping system in tropical developing countries such as the Philippines.

The Philippine counterpart agencies were the Department of Energy, the Provincial Government units (PPDO and PEO), the Local Water Utilities Administration, and the Water Resources Center of the University of San Carlos as the implementing institution. The implementation of the project involved the installation of photovoltaic pumping system and the pipelaying of distribution pipes. Most importantly, it entails the formation of a community association who would eventually manage the entire water system.

By March 1993, the first five PVP Systems were installed in the province of Cebu, one of which was in Bagtik, San Remegio which holds the world record in solar pumping system with the highest pumping head of 125 meters.

The PVP Project in Bagtik, San Remegio aimed to give the 383 households in the three barangays (Barangays Bagtik and San Miguel of San Remegio, and Barangay Kantubaon of Tabuelan) access to clean, safe and potable water. The project was participatory in nature. The beneficiary residents in Barangays Bagtik, San Miguel and Kantubaon provided counterpart labor such as construction work, hauling of materials, pipelaying, and the formation and training of Rural Water and Sanitation Association (RWSA) for the operation and maintenance of the water system.

After the completion of the project, the management of the water system was turned over to the association. The Bagtik RWSA is now charging water fees which are lower than what the beneficiaries used to pay for their water supply. The collected fees remain as the capital income of the association which they used for operation and maintenance expenses, and for the eventual upgrading of components at the end of its sevice life, ensuring a sustained water system for many years to come.

The Bagtik RWSA has effectively and efficiently managed the water system. Almost a decade after, the association was able to expand their service and membership to three more barangays of Tabuelan, proving the viability of a community-managed water system.

The formation of RWSA has been replicated by WRC in different areas of Cebu, such as IlanTagan Island at Daanbantayan, Tabla at Liloan, Kawasan and Sacsac at Aluginsan, Nangka at Boljoon, Kawit at Pilar; at Limasawa Island; and at Sablayan, Mindoro Occidental. WRC has developed a Field Manual on Formation of Rural Waterworks and Sanitation Association for water project implementors of the local government units and the community organizers of non-government organizations who are involved in the social preparation of local communities. The Manual, which is available by request, is a product of studies accumulated off-the-field and on-field experiences in years of implementing water projects.

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