Roi Anthoni B.
Lomotan
DUMAGUETE CITY, August 21 (PIA) – Water experts in the
country underscored the importance of water sustainability in achieving
progress and development in the province during a water conference held in
Silliman University, Dumaguete City recently.
This is the first water conference in the province organized
by the provincial government in cooperation with Water Excellence Philippines
(WEP) and the Integrated Water Resource Management Council (IWRMC).
The event gathered representatives from various local government
units, officers of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources
(DENR)-Negros Oriental, some national government agencies, resort owners and
other businessmen, environmental groups and members of the local press.
This is part of the campaign to make Negros Oriental the “Water
Excellence Capital” of the Philippines. It aims to stimulate discussions on
water sustainability and expound the talks on its impact to the different
sectors such as agribusiness, forestry, tourism, business and investments.
“This forum is very important. We wanted to as much as possible to
look into how much we have done in so far as the protection of the
environment in Negros Oriental is concerned,” DENR-7 executive director Isabelo
Montejo told attendees of the conference during his opening speech.
Montejo noted that water is a very important resource and the all
the ecological, sociological and socio-economic services are compromised if
water resources like rivers are polluted or destroyed.
Moreover, Dr. Rex Cruz, a water expert and a former chancellor of
the University of the Philippines-Los Baños, cited that water serves as a
sustainable support system for the development of the country’s critical
sectors which include agriculture, energy and health.
He also added that water is crucial when talking about sustainable
development.
Dr. Cruz pointed out that watersheds play an important role in
supplying people with a good quality of water. He then appealed to local
government officials to make watersheds healthy through reforestation.
He explained that if there is no reforestation there will be
landslides, destruction of infrastructures and water shortage for irrigation.
On the other hand, the advantages of having adequate forest cover would include
stable grounds, clean waters, flood control and agricultural benefits.
Dr. Cruz said it is the responsibility of the Local Government
Units (LGUs) to make their watersheds in good condition.
“If the mayors and the governor are actively engaged in watershed
management and water management programs then it is easier to convince people.
We have seen how local communities have been motivated to be involved in
natural resources management,” Cruz said.
In Negros Oriental, the forest cover has declined since 1960s due
to different logging activities. But according to Montejo, the province has
become the champion of the government’s National Greening Program (NGP) with
about 42% achievement in the targets for Region 7.
The NGP implementation in Negros Oriental has already covered
64,000 hectares of land in the province, Montejo noted.
Aside from highlighting the importance of reforestation and its
benefits in the watershed, the conference also tackled the role of water in the
Eco-Tourism programs of Negros Oriental.
National Scientist and former DENR secretary Angel Alcala cited
that LGUs can help preserve coastal waters and other marine ecosystems by
creating no-take marine reserves.
No-take marine reserves are places where fishermen are prohibited
from fishing in these areas. This will allow corals to regenerate and increase
the fish population.
Apart from this, LGUs can make these marine reserves as a tourist
attractions which can generate other income for the municipality.
Other topics discussed in the conference are Water Security and
Sustainability: A Global Outlook, Sustainable Agroforestry Systems for Food and
Water Security, Impact of Water and Eco-Tourism and Inclusive Growth and
Creating Resilient Communities through Equitable Water Governance and Climate
Change Adaptation.
Meanwhile, WEP director Amor Maclang thanked the attendees of the
conference. She noted the attendance from representatives of various sector
signified a high interest in the topic.
The next activity of WEP in Negros Oriental is watershed
profiling, said Maclang. (mbcn/ral/PIA7-Negros Oriental)
Canlaon City takes steps
to boost its eco-tourism