TACLOBAN CITY, LEYTE — Researchers from Eastern Visayas State University (EVSU) have unveiled an integrated engineering solution aimed at resolving persistent freshwater shortages in geographically isolated island communities. Developed under the university’s Master of Engineering program, the technology merges three interconnected prototypes covering seawater desalination, water filtration, and renewable solar energy. The system was formally demonstrated and tested during the candidates' final research defense held directly on Kalanggaman Island, a premier tourist destination off the coast of Palompon, Leyte, which lacks both a natural potable water source and a connection to the mainland electric grid.
The integrated system represents the collaborative research of three graduate engineers tackling distinct stages of off-grid water production: Engr. Julius Codilla developed the core desalination machine to strip salt content from seawater; Engr. Edrinal Estobañes engineered the specialized filtration system to purify the treated output; and Engr. Jomar Navarro designed the dedicated solar power infrastructure to sustain off-grid operations. Currently operational, the prototype generates approximately one gallon of freshwater per hour—a baseline capacity shaped by initial budget constraints that serves as a functional foundation for future scaling and efficiency upgrades.
University officials noted that while the live on-site testing successfully validated the hardware's mechanical functionality, the treated water still requires comprehensive laboratory testing to ensure strict compliance with Philippine National Standards for Drinking Water before it can be cleared for regular human consumption. Once refined and certified, EVSU's renewable desalination technology holds strong potential as a sustainable, replicable lifeline for Kalanggaman Island and similar remote coastal settlements across the archipelago.
