Pampanga River Basin wins ‘Bagani’ award

THE Pampanga River Basin Committee (PRBC) received the “Bagani ng Katubigan” award during the 2019 World Water Day (WWD) Awards, which aims to recognize efforts in environmental conservation, recently.

The PRCB joined 20 other “water champions” in the country for “strides in achieving water conservation and sustainability of the Philippine natural resources.”

The PRBC, chaired by Tarlac Governor Susan Yap, received the “Bagani ng Katubigan” award for efficiently implementing the Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) Strategy in the Pampanga River Basin.

“The organization involved in the PRBC is unique on its own, since it is under the Regional Development Council (RDC), while other river basins in the country are managed by their respective river basin management council,” said Conservation and Development Division chief Minerva Martinez, who received the award in behalf of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

The DENR said that the PRBC, through the RDC, oversees the implementation of the IWRM in the Basin.

It added that the regional offices of the DENR and the National Economic Development Authority in Central Luzon are responsible for providing the technical and administrative secretariat support to PRBC and in facilitating the implementation of the Committee’s functions and operations.

Minerva said the award will continuously inspire and challenge the DENR, partner agencies and stakeholders to uplift the lives of Filipinos through clean and sustainable environment, the news report added.

“It is our basic human right to have sufficient, safe and clean water. It is essential to our daily needs and survival, and we cannot fully progress while some communities are still living without safe water,” she added.

The DENR also added that this year’s theme of the WWD “Leaving no one behind” centers on Goal 6 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development that aims to provide water for all by year 2030 and to promote sustainable water management benefitting both rich and poor communities.

Since 2015, a total of 54 “water champions,” including indigenous people, community workers, youth leaders, local government units, and academe-based organizations, have been recognized for orchestrating plans and programs towards water sustainability.

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