SAVE WATER. Norzagaray, Bulacan Mayor Ma. Elena L. Germar welcomes participants to the Save Water Advocacy Program (SWAP) launched by the Local Water Utilities Administration on Tuesday (Nov. 22, 2022) at the Norzagaray Water District Compound. The program aims to raise high-level awareness on the importance and value of water, mitigate the effects of weather disturbance, and provide tips on water conservation. (PNA photo by Ben Briones)
NORZAGARAY, Bulacan – The Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) on Tuesday launched an information campaign to save water in Bulacan province.
Dubbed as “Save Water Advocacy Program” (SWAP), the water event was attended by personnel of the Norzagaray Water District (NWD), and the Pandi, Angat, San Ildefonso, San Rafael and Sta. Maria water districts, which are neighboring towns of Norzagaray.
Also present were community social workers, barangay health workers, teachers, local government units, barangay officials and the youth.
During the event, LWUA public relations chief Jannet Gojocco said, “the SWAP was launched by the LWUA as an intensive campaign for the conservation of water in partnership with its various stakeholders to inform and educate the people in saving water to cope with its scarcity and ensure its sustainability.”
Gojocco noted the successful pilot launching of SWAP in Baguio City in 2019.
“Today, as we move forward in the new normal and anticipate post-pandemic times, let’s make a day for another SWAP, this time in Norzagaray, Bulacan.” she said.
She added that the LWUA is glad to launch the program in Norzagaray in partnership with the NWD.
The SWAP aims to raise a high level of awareness of the importance and value of water, mitigate the effects of weather disturbances and provide some tips on water conservation.
It hopes to change people’s attitudes and behavior to improve water use efficiency.
For her part, Norzagaray Mayor Ma. Elena Germar, who assumed office last July 1, said that the local government unit is supportive of the water district.
“Naniniwala ako na umpisahan natin sa ating tahanan para maikalat sa ating barangay ang pagtitipid ng tubig. Nabubuhay ang tao nang walang pag-ibig pero walang taong nabubuhay nang walang tubig (I believe that we should start in our homes so that the conservation of water will be disseminated in our barangays. A man can live without love but no man can live without water),” Germar said.
The lady mayor also stressed that the garbage problem will be solved with the upcoming expansion of the town’s sanitary landfill.
However, she provided no specific timeframe for such an expansion project.
She hopes there will be more suppliers of water in the town aside from the NWD or tap a joint venture with another company for better service.
For his part, NWD General Manager Aimer Cruz noted that about 91 percent of the water consumption of Metro Manila residents comes from the Angat and Ipo Dams.
However, Cruz said the deforestation in the mountains of Norzagaray, which is part of the Sierra Madre mountain range, is excessive, adding that the passing of destructive typhoons in their area is one of the contributing factors to the turbidity of water.
Sierra Madre is known as a “natural barrier” that destroys the wind strength of a typhoon before it hits the landmass of Luzon Island.
Cruz asked the help of the national government in the protection of the forests, especially the Sierra Madre, noting that the “Bantay Kagubatan (forest rangers)” who are only armed with “jungle bolos” are no match with lawless elements who are armed with high-powered firearms.
He acknowledged the fact that the NWD is now servicing 70 percent of the Norzagaray residents.
Cruz boasted that they are providing “24-hour” water service in the town and that there have been no changes in the water rates since 2011. (PNA)
