Water management first tackled in climate change forum series

CEBU, Philippines - With the unprecedented changes in climate, a series of forums concerning climate change is being held to urge stakeholders to actively help address the problem.

The first part of the Climate Change Forum Series entitled "Cebu's Water Situation and Water Management" held yesterday at the Pagtambayayong Foundation tackled about water governance.

The forum also discussed greenhouse gas emissions, deforestation and other human activities that contribute to climate change.

Engineer Fe Walag, director of the University of San Carlos-Water Resource Center Incorporated and one of the forum speakers, talked on the importance of water, flood mitigation as well as of the community in taking care of the environment.

It can be recalled that there was a decline in water levels in Jaclupan and Buhisan dams during the onset of El Niño; hence, Walag cited the importance of conserving water.

Pagtambayayong climate change desk and former Cebu City councilor Alvin Dizon said water conservation must begin in households.

"Another important objective of this forum is to involve affirmative actions sa mga participants nga naa g'yud ta'y concrete actions nga buhaton that we need to conserve water. There is unanimity with the participants that we need to conserve water first at the household level," he said.

Water conservation can be also achieved in the community level, he said.

"Daghay balaod nga pwede nato buhaton sa community. For example, sa kadtong ordinansa sa syudad nga rain catchment facility, kini aron ang uwan dili modritso sa ground kay pwede pa kining  gamiton sa pagpanglaba, bisbis sa mga tanom ug uban pa," he said.

Apart from awareness, another important objective of the forum is for participants to be involved in actions that would address the issue.

"We really need to reach out to inform them the importance of our plan. Ang importante ra man gud ani, maski ginagmay, kung unsay mabuhat nato kung daghay mubuhat aning mga ginagmay, naay g'yu'y impact," he said.

The Climate Change Forum is an offshoot of the recently-concluded Cebu Summit on the Environment held at the Cebu City Hall and hosted by the Sugboanong Nagpakabana sa Kalikupan (SNK).

Issues concerning waste management will be tackled in the next series of the climate change forum.  (FREEMAN)