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THE
Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)
held on Wednesday a river forum to tackle the problems
and solution to the looming water crisis as a result of
the continued degradation of rivers and other bodies of
water in the
Philippines.
Around
300 participants, composed of officials and
representatives from various government agencies, the
private sector, nongovernment organizations (NGOs),
civil-society groups, people’s organizations, academe
and the media, attended the one-day event.
The
event was highlighted by the signing of a memorandum of
agreement between the DENR and ABS-CBN Bantay Kalikasan
that formally forged a partnership for the
rehabilitation of the country’s river systems,
particularly Pasig River.
Environment Secretary Lito Atienza and Regina Paz Lopez,
managing director of Bantay Kalikasan, signed the
agreement.
With the
signing of the agreement, Bantay Kalikasan officially
became the DENR’s partner in rehabilitating key river
systems, particularly Pasig River, taking over from the
Clean and Green Foundation, headed by former First Lady
Amelita “Ming”Ramos
Atienza
underscored the need for cooperation among various
stakeholders to address the looming water crisis, which
threatens the poorest of the poor around the world,
including the
Philippines.
He said
the government, private sector, NGOs and civil-society
groups alone can not solve the problem brought about by
the sheer apathy of all concerned.
“We need
everybody’s help to protect our environment and
rehabilitate our river systems,” he said.
Atienza
noted that 50 of the 78 river systems in the Philippines
can be considered biologically dead, mainly because
people care less about protecting the rivers.
He said,
with Bantay Kalikasan comanaging the rehabilitation of
the country’s rivers, the DENR will immediately buckle
down to work and finish what the Clean and Green
Foundation has accomplished so far.
Lopez,
for her part, said ABS-CBN’s Bantay Kalikasan will be at
the forefront of the information, education and
communication campaign to involve the communities in
protecting the rivers.
She said
the rehabilitation of the
Pasig
River
will be a big challenge, but considering the
accomplishment of those who started the campaign more
than a decade ago, finishing the job will be a lot
easier.
“The
rehabilitation work will not be as difficult,
considering what was already accomplished. All we have
to do is pick up from where it stopped and continue
working for its rehabilitation,” she said.
Atienza
said the rehabilitation of the country’s rivers will be
a continuing program until all river systems are back to
their original pristine condition.
Meth
Jimenez of the Sagip Pasig Movement said part of the
strategy to rehabilitate Pasig River is to relocate
10,000 squatter families living in 407 communities in
nine Metro Manila cities that contribute to the
degradation of the river.
She said
the Clean and Green Foundation was able to accomplish 50
percent of the relocation aspect of the river’s
rehabilitation, and has so far successfully involved
some of the communities in the protection of the river
from litterbugs.
Dubbed
as the “Forum on the Philippine Rivers,” with the theme
“Ang Tubig ay Yaman at Buhay,” as part of the World
Water Day and Philippine Water Week celebrations, the
forum aims to increase public awareness about the
importance of water and the looming water crisis that is
expected to hit the Philippines by 2015.
March 22
is World Water Day, while March 24 to 28 is the
Philippine Water Week.
Ramon
Alikpala, executive director of the National Water
Resources Board, said the forum aims to heighten the
public awareness on water, which he said is one of the
most precious natural resources yet taken for granted by
the people.
“People
know that water is important but are we doing the right
thing to conserve water? Through this forum, we hope to
increase public awareness about the importance of water
and how the people can contribute to the protection of
our rivers and other bodies of water,” Alikpala told
BusinessMirror. |
