Sen. Cynthia Villar was conferred on Wednesday a government award for her environmental advocacies including solid waste management, sustainable tourism, and community development.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources-National Capital Region (DENR-NCR) handed the award to the senator in rites held at the Radisson North EDSA in Quezon City in line with the aency’s Gawad Taga-Ilog 2,0. Search for the Most Improved Estero in Metro Manila, highlighting observance of the World Water Day.
In her acceptance speech, Villar noted that as an individual, a legislator and a public servant, these have always been her priorities and advocacies.
The senator has been at the forefront of maintaining a healthy enviroment, especially now that the world faces a global health crisis.
She has likewise been making strides for the realization of water sustainability. Villar, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, recalled that “four years ago on this day in 2018, together with the Manila Bay Site Coordinating Management Office and all other
organizations, the DENR-NCR also awarded me as “Kampeon ng Katubigan” for my efforts in leading the protection of bodies of water such as the Las Piñas Zapote River and the Las Piñas Parañaque Wetland Park.”
“Eleven years ago, in 2011, I also received an award for the river rehabilitation program. I started in my home city- the Sagip Ilog program. It bested other initiatives from 38 other countries and won the United Nations Water for Life Best Water Management Practices during World Water Day celebration in Zaragosa, Spain,” also said Villar. Macon Ramos-Araneta
The senator said the accolades challenged her to do even more for the environment.
“Now, it’s World Water Day again, and the theme of this year’s celebration is, “Groundwater: making the invisible visible”, which highlights an otherwise invisible water resource,” related Villar.
The United Nations’ International Groundwater Resources Assessment Center (UN-IGRC) said groundwater is a vital resource providing almost half of all drinking water worldwide, about 40% of water for irrigated agriculture and about 1/3 of water required for industries.
Because the Philippines is an agricultural country, Villar stressed that water is vital for the country’s food security, among others.
“The World Economic Forum, water scarcity is among the biggest challenges to the global economy. So, water security becomes an even more important and urgent concern for all of us,” said Villar.
She stressed that groundwater in particular sustains ecosystems and maintains the baseflow of rivers. Groundwater is also an important part of climate change adaptation process and is often a solution for people without access to safe water.