Philippines Startup

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Philippines Startup This point in time is purely decided by funding level. Up until this point SRG will have been running on the efforts of our founders and occasional volunteers while building initial revenue streams. Online operations will have allowed one or two of us to work on SRG full time and we will have the capital for relocation, etc. as outlined below.

  • Phase II Relocation: Chris will relocate from Canada to the Philippines at this point.
  • Expanded Media Content: The regular vlog centric content that has evolved up to this point will shift along with location.
  • Homeoffice Digital Systems: Homeoffice will be our primary digital hub for some time and a backup facility after that. Uploading content to the web and using cloud services will be vital to our project. Fortunately our first site has acceptable broadband fiber service. We will run two independently connected LANs, one for general use and one dedicated to office use.
  • Homeoffice Solar PV Prototype: Power grids in the Philippines are unreliable, so our first digital hub will have off grid backup power. This small system, possibly a set of small systems from competing providers, allows us to evaluate local options for solar array installation and component supply before investing in the larger basecamp array.
  • Homeoffice Solar Thermal Prototype: We will build a small roof or tower mounted solar thermal collector, of the thermosiphon type, according to our internal designs. We plan a range of options that depend on local factors and available funds. Our current plan is to select the two leading designs we have at the time and prototype them both.
  • Homeoffice Foodplus Prototype: Our vertically integrated food system uses solar thermal power to heat water to 90-95 degrees C. We then use that water to cook sous-vide, batch pasteurize or to pre-heat dry thermal mass in other appliances. Direct solar electric (not using expensive battery storage banks), biomass pyrolysis, or LPG is used to boost the temperature of that dry thermal mass to required temperature (i.e. 350 F / 177 C plus for baking and the Maillard reaction to brown food). Water can also be boiled, used in steamers, with pressure cookers, etc. by adding extra energy. Large insulated thermal masses can keep temperature for days, which smooths the time curve of intermittent solar gains. Our Foodplus recipes and menu plans account for solar power timing and temperature drop off relative to preparation schedules.
  • NPO Formation: A variety of options for non-profit operation and on campus business structures exist in the Philippines. Some, like a formal foundation, represent significant overhead cost but offer great flexibility. Others, such as agricultural and / or educational cooperatives are more attractive but require consultation with local authorities (municipal and provincial) for further evaluation.
  • Local Educational Partnerships: We will recruit students with the help of local educators and community leaders. Highschool graduates in need will be invited to participate after an interview process. The radius of recruitment depends on local transit links (tricycles, jeepneys) as most local students will not be residing on campus. In exceptional cases where a daily commute is not possible we will be able to offer dormitory space. Resident students will have periodic transit when we send staff to market, shopping, on their own commutes, etc. We intend to cultivate partnerships with local high schools and post-secondary institutions so joint projects with the community of local educators are anticipated.
  • Basecamp Site Selection: We are currently evaluating a number of properties in the area of San Jose City and Munoz, in the province of Nueva Ecija, central Luzon, Philippines. Prior to phase II relocation, etc. it is too early to select a site as significant due diligence is involved. This process includes but is not limited to: physical risk assessment, environmental tests, local economic scans, verifying a clear and valid land title and acquisition of the property. These must be peri-urban sites, the leading candidates are working or recently working farms without flooding issues. Rice fields are not ideal, and orchards or vegetable farms are preferred. The department of natural resources mandates that certain rare mature trees are not cut down. This will lead us to employ a “permaculture island” technique where the tree’s root structure is preserved with appropriate ground cover / decking and intercropping is done around the tree. These factors and more will on site attention.

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