MWSS chief stresses urgency of watershed protection

The Philippines had joined the celebration of World Water Day on March 22 to raise awareness on the importance of water and the need to conserve this most basic resource.

To mark World Water Day, the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) and its concessionaires Manila Water, Maynilad and Luzon Clean Water launched a series of activities showing the importance of watershed conservation and the protection and care of the country’s natural resources.

This year’s theme, “Nature for Water,” explored how nature could be used properly to overcome water challenges of the 21st century.

The activities were launched at the La Mesa Nature Reserve in Quezon City on March 18 with an orientation and lecture on the value of forests and watersheds and a 5-kilometer nature walk at the La Mesa Nature Reserve.

“Deforestation has greatly affected our country’s watersheds,” said MWSS administrator Reynaldo Velasco.

“You and I are aware that watersheds need trees in order to absorb rainwater which channels it into streams, rivers and eventually dams where human communities source fresh water,” he said.

Of 143 critical watersheds in the country, six were considered crucial to Metro Manila’s water supply—Umiray, Angat, Ipo, La Mesa, Marikina and Laguna Lake watersheds.