Agusan Sur students showcase solar tricycle
By
Jennifer Gaitano
Engr. Jermy Divinagracia, assistant professor I of Agusan del Sur School of Arts and Trades (ASSAT), explained to the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Caraga team how the students accomplished their research and project proposals as part of their academic achievements. Photo by PIA Caraga.
BUTUAN CITY (PIA) – Students of Agusan del Sur School of Arts and Trades (ASSAT) in Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur showcased a solar tricycle that they built as a school project during the recent Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair.
This
eco-friendly transportation units were featured by Technical Education and
Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Caraga during the recent Bagong
Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair (BPSF) in Agusan del Norte, held at the Caraga State
University (CSU) in Butuan City, which also provided free rides to the
participants within the campus.
Students of Agusan del Sur School of Arts and Trades (ASSAT), who are also scholars of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Caraga, introduced the solar-powered tricycle during the Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair (BPSF) at the Caraga State University (CSU), Butuan City, wherein participating sectors enjoyed the free ride driven by TESDA scholars. Photo by PIA Caraga.
The units were driven by Rhean Jhon Waban and Ryan Miranda, the creators and designers of the said innovation, who are third year students of ASSAT and TESDA scholars under the Diploma in Electrical Engineering.
“We used
scrap or recycled materials to fabricate the solar trike, so the units are
definitely cost- and energy-saving. We just need to have a solar panel to
support our tricycle, making it operational and very useful since we will not
use fuel or electricity,” said Waban.
“With
this solar-powered trike, there are no exhaust gas emissions of carbon dioxide.
Solar panels generate electricity with no machinery, no wear, are fully
enclosed, rain-free, and have a service life of more than 20 years,” shared
Miranda.
Both students also explained that the solar trike uses an electric motor that is powered by a battery using solar energy panels.
“Photovoltaic
cells contained in solar panels convert the solar energy directly into electric
energy.”
“Let’s
take every opportunity to excel and be able to contribute to society through
creating and innovating projects that are beneficial to the people,” they
added.
Kelvin
Kennt Generalo, one of the BPSF participants who tried the solar tricycle, was
amused by how the students convinced other peers to engage in creating more
innovations, including science and technology explorations and other unique
inventions.
“It is
very inspiring to see that students are becoming proactive and
environment-conscious. This solar trike will also inspire other students to
engage in inventions that will have agreat impact onsociety,” Generalo
expressed.
Engr.
Jermy Divinagracia, assistant professor I of ASSAT, also highlighted the
significance for students to come up with research proposals that are feasible
and very useful in the grassroots; hence, he urged them to continue to explore
and be creative in their crafts and support the government’s campaign on
innovations in science and technology.
Assistant Regional Director Carlito Quintano of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) in Caraga highlighted that the agency has various programs for the different sectors. He also reiterated that the government is serious in providing the needs of the marginalized sectors in the region. Photo by PIA Caraga.
“Our
school continues to guide the students in their studies and research proposals,
as we want them to be fully skilled in their respective fields,” said Divinagracia.
Meanwhile, Assistant Regional Director Carlito Quintano of TESDA-Caraga further stressed that they support the schools that provide skills training to students and different sectors, including the Northern Mindanao School of Fisheries in Buenavista, Agusan del Norte.
“For those who want to avail of the free services and skills and livelihood training from TESDA, they may visit the nearest TESDA office in their area and approach our personnel for any possible assistance,” remarked Quintano. (JPG, PIA-Agusan del Sur)
