Approximately 200 participants from different water districts in Mindanao and schools and government agencies in Davao City joined the activities that Davao City Water District prepared for the World Water Day celebration (WWD) last March 22 at Rizal Park. These were “Run for Water” fun run, sticker brigade, “Blue Hands” mural painting, motorcade and National Water Caravan (NWC). The celebration is an international and annual activity which promoted the importance of freshwater and sustainable management of freshwater resources.
The activities centered on this year’s theme “Water Cooperation” which emphasized the importance of cooperation in striking a balance between the different needs and priorities and share precious resource equitably by using water as an instrument of peace considering that the fulfilment of basic human needs, our environment, socio-economic development and poverty reduction are all heavily dependent on water.
The celebration started with the invitational five-kilometer fun run “Run for Water” joined in by employees from DCWD, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, City Engineer’s Office, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Agriculture, Department of Science and Technology, PhilHealth and Philippine Red Cross, university and college students and faculty from the Mindanao Medical Foundation Inc. and Brokenshire College and some walk-in participants. Assembly time was at 4:00 AM and the starting point was at Rizal Park en route San Pedro St., Quezon Boulevard, Sandawa Road, Quirino Avenue, Pelayo St., Palma Gil St., C.M. Recto and then back again to Rizal Park. Emerging winner for the male category was Anthony Nersa and for the female category was Criselyn Jaro both from Brokenshire College. Special awards were also given to Matt Ronald Tan as the 40th runner, Fred Garado for the early bird runner, Isagani Quintos for the Blue Runner and Raymond Sunga for the latest runner.
After the Fun Run, participants hailed jeepneys along San Pedro street and placed stickers on watershed protection and water conservation on their back portions. Then, they hand-marked their support using blue water-based paint on a cloth during the mural painting activity dubbed “Blue Hands”. The painted hands represented DCWD’s campaign for water and water resource protection which included the support of people from all walks of life.
Midway through the celebration, Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) acting deputy administrator for administrative services Manuel T. Yoingco, employees and general managers of the water districts of Kabacan, Tagum, Digos, Carmen, Panabo and Sultan Kudarat and representatives from Philippine College of Technology and Ateneo de Davao University arrived to participate in the motorcade and NWC which started from Rizal Park to DCWD Bajada office and then back again to Rizal Park. A short program followed wherein Yoingco conferred plaques of appreciation to Southern and Central Mindanao Water Information Council (SOCEMWIC) and DCWD for hosting the NWC in the Davao region. Receiving the awards were Kabacan WD general manager Ferdie Mar S. Balungay as the president of SOCEMIC, DCWD’s OIC – assistant general manager for operations Exequiel B. Homez in behalf of acting general manager Edwin V. Regalado.
DCWD also actively participated in the Watershed Summit 2013 themed “Strengthening Cooperation towards Water Resource Protection” at Grand Men Seng Hotel. Aside from being one of the presenters in the summit, DCWD also put up an exhibit showcasing its environmental protection efforts that help promote water resource sustainability in Davao City through different rehabilitation programs in the three major watershed areas in Davao City, namely, Mt. Talomo-Lipadas, Mt. Tipolog-Tamugan and Malagos. [Jovana T. Duhaylungsod]
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