World Water Day Celebration…Nature For Water
For the first time, all twenty two (22) Water Districts in Negros Island and Siquijor, gathered together as one, and raised their voices, in celebration of the World Water last March 22, 2018 at Robinsons Place, Bacolod. This year’s theme, “Nature for Water” emphasizes on nature-based solutions (NBS) to address mounting water-related problems and issues facing the planet.
The celebration kicked off with a water caravan followed by a short program and signing of the Blue and Green Covenant.
Five Hundred Sixty (560) stakeholders including representatives from the Provincial Environment Management Office (PEMO), Department of Environment and Natural Resources – Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (DENR-PENRO), Negros Forest and Ecological Foundation, Inc. (NFEFI), Environment and Natural Resources Office (ENRO) and Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) joined the water caravan from the New Government Center to Robinson’s Place where a short program was held. Engr. Manolito P. Mendoza, Jr., Talisay Water District General Manager and President of the newly formed Negros Island and Siquijor Water Districts Association (NISWADA) gave the welcome address. Inspirational messages were given by Dir. David M. Villanueva, BACIWA Board of Director, Atty. Wilfred Ramon M. Peñalosa, Provincial Environment Management Officer and Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran.
Another segment of the celebration was the Photo and Poster Making Contests held in the afternoon. Twenty Eight High School students from private and public schools participated in the Poster Making Contest and Seventy Two (72) water district employees submitted their entries for the Photo Contest.
The celebration ended with the awarding of winners for the Poster Making Contest. James Quilla of Luis Hervias National High School bested other contestants and won first place and received Five Thousand Pesos (Php 5,000.00) cash prize. Andreian Dasas and Renzo Gulmatico of Domingo Lacson National High School won second and third places and received Three Thousand (Php 3,000.00) and Two Thousand (Php 2,000.00) pesos cash prizes.
Meanwhile Arturo Poblacion won first place in the Photo Contest, John Michael Pastolero, second place and Keith Cepeda, third place. All winners are employees of the Bacolod City Water District. They received cash prizes of Php 5,000.00, Php 3,000.00 and Php 2,000.00, respectively.
Judges for the Photo Contest include Mr. Rosendo Aguilar and Mr. Antonio Tejado, both faculty members of La Consolacion College School of Architecture, Fine Arts & Interior Design and Ms. Chrysee Samillano of TheVisayan Daily Star.
Judges for the Poster Making Contest were Messrs. Beethhoven Tiano, Vladimir Cebu and David Castor.
