INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines – Saving water saves power, and vice versa.
The country’s observance of World Water Day on March 22 will focus on the link between water and energy consumption, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources said Saturday.
The local theme this year is “Water is Power,” and the observance is expected to bring together the country’s water and power sectors to raise public awareness of the close link between water and energy consumption, Environment Secretary Ramon Paje said in a news release.
“We wish to highlight the important link between water and power, and how they are highly dependent on each other,” Paje said.
He noted that producing energy uses water, and providing freshwater uses energy. Both processes, he said, face growing limits and problems.
“In fact, much of our generated power relies on water, while many Filipinos rely on electrical power for domestic water supply,” he said.
Paje said that aside from providing Filipinos access to clean water and electricity, “the efficient use of both water and power is also an urgent issue the government is trying to address.”
According to government statistics, about 17 million people in the Philippines have no access to safe drinking water and over 15 million still have no access to electricity.
The DENR and its agencies have prepared a week-long series of activities, including the kick-off event on March 17 at the Angat Hydroelectric Power Plant in Norzagaray, Bulacan.
On March 18, the DENR’s Environmental Management Bureau will hold a day-long World Water Day Exhibit at the activity center of the Glorietta 2 in Makati City.
At 5 p.m. on that day, there will be a free four-hour concert that will feature pop and alternative rock artists to draw attention to current efforts to revive Manila Bay and major rivers and creeks in Metro Manila.
On March 19, the EMB will hold an on-the-spot poster-making contest for elementary and high school students at SM North EDSA, while their teachers undergo a Water Education workshop at the Air Quality Training Center inside the DENR compound in Quezon City.
The DENR will also host “Water Is Power” lecture series in selected schools in Pateros and the cities of Quezon, Marikina, Pasig, San Juan, and Taguig from March 18 to 20.
All activities will culminate on March 21 at the Music Hall of the SM Mall of Asia, where a two-kilometer walk will be held to raise awareness of various water-related issues.
March 22 was declared “World Day for Water” in 1993 by the United Nations General Assembly. This year’s international theme is “Water and Energy.”
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