BACOLOD CITY — Water stakeholders in Negros Island and Siquijor renewed their commitment to the stewardship and protection of the resources to mark the 2018 World Water Day with the theme “Nature for Water” on Thursday.
Officials of the Negros Island and Siquijor Water Districts Association (Niswada) with representatives of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Provincial Environment Management Office, Bacolod City Environment and Natural Resources Office, and Negros Forests and Ecological Foundation Inc. signed “The Blue and Green Covenant” during the morning program held at Robinsons Place Bacolod.
Negros Occidental Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer Wilfred Ramon Peñalosa, in his keynote message, challenged the water districts to make the people accountable in how they utilize water resources.
“How do we make more people accountable for their actions? How do we make more people accountable for the water?” he asked.
This year’s observance of the World Water Day was hosted by the Bacolod City Water District headed by general manager Juliana Carbon with the Niswada led by president Manolito Mendoza Jr., and the Province of Negros Occidental.
Collectively, the water districts vowed “to deliver sufficient, safe, accessible and affordable water to our constituents and concessionaires so that water for all, everywhere and always will serve as evidence of our public service”.
Through the renewal of commitment signing, the water stakeholders pledged to, among others, replenish dwindling freshwater supply by retaining as much rainwater as possible through reforestation and urban greening as well as protect and effectively manage watersheds and its inter-related ecosystem through partnerships.
They also committed to undertake intensive research into groundwater resources and regulate extraction to achieve sustainable development and utilization, and encourage government support and investment in water and wastewater infrastructure to improve equitable access to safe and potable water and sanitation.
Furthermore, they pledged to intensify endeavors to protect and improve water quality through enactment of laws and ensure its effective implementation, and promote public awareness and education on the environment as well as public reporting of the environmental impacts of laws, policies, projects and programs.
Before the program at the mall, a water caravan was held from Bacolod City Government Center to Robinsons Place Bacolod.
Carbon, Mendoza and other officers and members of Niswada also paid a courtesy call on Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr.
In the afternoon, a poster-making contest for high school students was also held.(Nanette Guadalquiver/PNA)
