Covenant signed to protect watersheds, water resources Pasuquin, Ilocos Norte—”Life is water, let’s conserve it!” This was the message imparted during the first ever Ilocos Norte water summit held September 23 at the Dilomot Watershed, which incidentally supplies the needed water of Laoag City and the province’s northern portion. Enjoining more than 500 participants from local government units of the province, government agencies, non-government organizations (NGOs), youth and civic groups, the Ilocos Norte Water District (INWD), headed by its Board Chairman Emeric S. Asuncion and General Manager John M. Teodoro, initiated a symbolic signing of a covenant, which aims to instill awareness and to make various stakeholders to commit in becoming a potent force in the sustainable management, rehabilitation, development and protection of watersheds and other water resources in the province. Aside from signing the said covenant, INWD officials also undertook other activities during the one-day summit, including how to manage watershed and water resources, planting trees and a trek for a cause. The theme for the first-ever water summit is “Safeguarding the future of our water resources.” The whole-day activity, which involved the active participation of all concerned stakeholders and caretakers, specifically aimed to secure water both in quality and quantity for improved agricultural productivity as well as for safe drinking and sanitation purposes. Water specialists from the Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) and the INWD expounded on the value of water as a source of life as they stressed that without it, there is no life. Hence, there is a need for everyone to utilize it wisely and help in its protection and conservation. The province of Ilocos Norte used to have clean rivers, lakes and ground water reservoirs that were safe for drinking. However as the population grew, the quality of the water deteriorated. As a proof of this, water-refilling stations had mushroomed all around the province, which implies that normal tap water may no longer be that safe for drinking. In an effort to safeguard the environment and prevent unwanted circumstances of water pollution, environmentalists launched the water summit as a way of reminding every individual to their respective roles in environmental preservation not only for today’s generation but also for those to come. The INWD’s mission and vision also made it active in it watershed management program, particularly of the Dilomot Watershed as it is now undertaking an integrated approach that looks at the problem of water from supply and demand aspects. In realizing this vision, the water district has formulated a doable watershed-based approach to water resources management since the effect of human interaction on the environment could be analyzed through this framework. The watershed-based approach rests largely on an inter-agency collaboration on issues pertaining to water and on major stakeholder involvement as well as strong local government unit leadership. It is also smaller in scale and more manageable compared to river basin approach. The said approach also helps set priorities for action on an ecosystem basis thus promoting cost-effective control policies that promote public participation and public-private sectors partnerships. Among those who attended the summit were local government officials led by Ilocos Norte Vice Governor Windell D. Chua and Sangguniang Panlalawigan member Mariano V. Marcos II, barangay officials, farmers and zanjera groups, women, youth and student organizations, the Philippine Air Force, the Philippine National Police, members of the academe and various civic and peoples’ organizations. Officials from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), led by provincial environment and natural resources officer Juan Delos Reyes, the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA), and the Philippine Association of Water Districts (PAWD) also participated in the environment conservation meeting serving as resource speakers. Leilanie G. Adriano
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