VARIOUS government agencies and groups in the country celebrated World Water Day on March 22, 2021 online.

World Water Day is observed annually every March 22 since 1993. It aims to celebrate water and raise awareness of the global water crisis.

The theme of World Water Day 2021 is “valuing water,” highlighting its “enormous and complex value for our households, food, culture, health, education, economics, and the integrity of our natural environment,” according to the United Nations.

This year, due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic, most activities for the observance of World Water Day 2021 were held virtually. Here are some of the activities:

• The Cebu City Coastal Management Task Force held a city-wide cleanup of Cebu City's waterways on Saturday, March 20, 2021.

• A PSI-AGWWAS forum on the trend of water privatization was held at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino on March 22.

• In a video, Undersecretary Bernardo Florece, Department of the Interior and Local Government officer-in-charge, said that Filipinos should “strive to heighten their awareness and bring to life the importance of providing, protecting, and ensuring the sustainability of the country’s fast-depleting water resources.”

“Only around 91 percent of the country’s total population has access to safe and sufficient water supply, and this remains inequitably distributed, especially in rural areas,” said Florece.

• The Presidential Communications Operations Office urged the public to fight Covid-19 by “frequently practicing proper handwashing while conserving this valuable resource.”

• For its part, the Asian Development Bank produced a video showing what water means to different people and communities. (NRC)